In this conversation between Sara Barbour, the executive director of The Alliance CDFI—a Native community development financial institution chartered under the Yurok Tribe—and Lauren Grattan, the co-founder and chief community officer of Mission Driven Finance, we explore how Tribal SSBCI* funds and the Indigenous Futures Fund are unlocking opportunities in Native communities. Sara and Lauren reflect on the challenges, successes, and long-term potential of initiatives focused on Tribal self-determination through inclusive economic growth.
Lauren Grattan: Tell us a bit about yourself and the work you do. Who are your people?
Sara Barbour: I’m the executive director of The Alliance CDFI, a nonprofit of the Yurok Tribe—of which my husband is an enrolled member. CDFIs were created to provide access to capital and financial services in underserved communities. As a Native CDFI, we focus our efforts on providing services to the Native community to help promote economic growth and support local entrepreneurs. While our primary focus is serving Yurok Tribal members, we assist wherever we’re needed, as long as we’re supporting Native communities.
I came to this role after working in finance, housing, and economic development for the Tribe. My background as a small business owner helps me connect with the entrepreneurs we serve, who often face barriers to conventional financial services.
Sara Barbour (photo courtesy of Sara Barbour)
Our area lacks basic services, from personal care to mechanics. Supporting small businesses addresses those gaps and strengthens the local economy.
Nikki Foster, Dante Desiderio, Lauren Grattan, Tim Rios at the 2024 Oweesta Annual Native CDFI Capital Access Convening (photo courtesy of Oweesta Corporation)
Lauren: That’s such important work. Most people don’t realize how underbanked Tribal communities are. CDFIs like yours fill a critical gap. Can you share why the Yurok Tribe decided to pursue Tribal SSBCI funding?
Sara: Tribal leadership has always been proactive in finding ways to benefit members. There was a great opportunity to secure more capital from the U.S. Government that we could use to support Native-owned small businesses as we were coming out of the pandemic.
And the need is so great—our area lacks basic services, from personal care to mechanics. Supporting small businesses addresses those gaps and strengthens the local economy.
SSBCI was also a unique opportunity to create a long-term sustainable pool of funds. As borrowers repay their loans, those funds we put to work in the community stay with the Yurok Tribe and Alliance CDFI for us to reinvest. That helps build capacity for us as a financial intermediary.
These first steps are laying the groundwork for something much bigger—self-determination through economic empowerment.
Lauren: Right, and the discretionary nature of that returning capital is rare. It’s a powerful tool for self-determination, having cash on hand that your Tribal Council can choose how to use. But this isn’t without its challenges. What’s been the hardest part about implementing the SSBCI program?
Sara: Capacity, hands down. When I took this role, I was the only full-time employee. Outreach was a huge hurdle—we just didn’t have the bandwidth to let the community know about the program. Regulatory changes and complex requirements also posed challenges. But we’ve found ways to innovate, such as partnering with others on short-term lending programs to meet our goals.
Lauren: That’s where partnerships can help, right? I believe you met Ted Piccolo (senior director of Indigenous futures at Mission Driven Finance) through the Northwest Native Lending Network. I remember first meeting you in person at Oweesta’s Capital Access Convening in Santa Ana Pueblo, where you gave us great feedback that really shaped how we work with Native CDFIs.
Most people don’t realize how underbanked Tribal communities are. CDFIs fill a critical gap.
Zakaria Shaikh, Ted Piccolo, and Dave Tovey at the Native CDFI Network 4th Annual Policy & Capacity Building Summit (photo by Sam Levitan courtesy of NCN)
Sara: What I appreciate about Mission Driven Finance is how flexible you’ve been. You met us where we were and supported us through this process. The first deal we partnered on—GC Green—felt like a win on so many levels: Native woman-owned, great terms, clean energy access on Tribal land. It was an easy yes for us, and your support helped us overcome some of those capacity constraints.
Lauren: GC Green is a great example of collaboration. Five Tribes were represented by our teams, including Liz Perez (CEO & founder of GC Green), and the reservation where their EV charging stations are being installed. It felt like a real community effort.
Sara: Collaboration like this creates opportunities we wouldn’t have otherwise. And it builds momentum. Every deal we do helps our board and loan committee feel more confident, which opens doors for more partnerships and bigger opportunities.
Lauren: It’s clear this is about so much more than just hitting federal targets. It’s about catalyzing movement and creating lasting impact. I think what you’re building here has the potential to transform economic development across Indian Country.
Sara: Thanks, Lauren. We’ve still got a lot to learn, but we’re getting there. These first steps are laying the groundwork for something much bigger—self-determination through economic empowerment.
Liz Perez, CEO & founder of GC Green (photo courtesy of Liz Perez)
What you’re building here has the potential to transform economic development across Indian Country.
Through programs like Tribal SSBCI and mission-aligned partnerships, Native CDFIs like Alliance are paving the way for sustainable economic growth in Indigenous communities. It’s a reminder of the power of Native financial intermediaries to not just fund businesses but to drive long-term transformation.
*SSBCI stands for State Small Business Credit Initiative, established in 2010 as part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and reauthorized and expanded in 2021 through the American Rescue Plan Act to provide $10 billion over 10 years to support small businesses across states, U.S. territories, and Tribal governments as the country emerges from the pandemic.
Disclosure: Sara Barbour and The Alliance CDFI partnered with Mission Driven Finance on a loan. No compensation was involved in connection with the experiences shared in the interview.
