Valued Advisor Fund (VAF)
The VAF, a community development entity, invests in the growth of community-aligned projects and businesses.
The Valued Advisor Fund provides Financial Counseling and Other Services (FCOS) to businesses, not-for-profits and other commercial entities with a goal toward supporting long-term economic engines for the community served.
VAF also provides direct services to CDFIs and Community Development Entities in the form of support for compliance and loan servicing needs related to NMTCs and other community development programs. VAF also provides community impact analysis, such as initial and stabilized assessments of projects to aid in the understanding of impacts anticipated and impacts achieved.
About the Valued Advisor Fund
- Maximizes community resources
- Leverages New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC)
- Provides access to underwriting structuring, compliance, and reporting expertise
- Establishes connections between investors, lenders, and alternative resources
- Offers NMTC and other economic development tool training for community stakeholders, including borrowers, developers, lenders, local officials and others
- Provides financial counseling and other sources to non-profits, businesses, and other entities to support long-term community growth
VAF Projects
Audubon Metals | Corsicana, TX
Industry – Manufacturing
The Valued Advisor Fund provided funding to support Audubon Metals with the construction, equipping and installation costs for an investment in a rural, low-income community. The plant uses recycled aluminum alloys for die-casting companies to produce automotive parts and engine components.
VAF’s investment supports more than 200 permanent jobs with an average wage exceeding the living wage in Navarro County, TX. All of the positions offer benefits and opportunities for advancement. Audubon will participate in training programs offered to low-income persons and residents through the Texas Workforce Commission at the Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas (Corsicana Workforce Center). The company will also collaborate with local Navarro College and the Corsicana Independent School District’s Career and Technology Education (CTE) Program to provide students with training and industry certifications that lead to employment at Audubon and other manufacturing careers.
Boys and Girls Club of Southern Nevada | Multiple locations
Industry – Community
The Valued Advisor Fund provided financing to support the operational viability and expansion of programming for the Boys and Girls Club’s 13 locations in Southern Nevada. The Sponsor’s programs provide youth with a safe positive environment to go to after school where they can receive guidance, develop supportive relationships and have access to meaningful opportunities.
Annually, the clubs serve more than 8,000 individuals, ages ranging from five to 18 years old, whom more than 70% are considered low-income persons or residents, and the majority living in single parent households. The programming offered by the Sponsor helps develop young individuals’ capacity to engage in positive behaviors to nurture their well-being and set personal goals, which helps them grow into self-sufficient adults.
Ponce Health Sciences University | Ponce, PR
Industry – Health and Education
Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) is a graduate level health sciences institution that offers students educational programming in medicine, clinical psychology, biomedical sciences and public health. The Project is the result of the need to replace the Sponsor’s current 30+ year old facility that was significantly damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017 (sustaining $15 million in damages), and the current facility lacking the capacity to meet the medical needs of the surrounding low-income community.
PHSU anticipates its educational capacity will more than double and nearly 75% of the healthcare patients are expected to be low-income backgrounds. The Valued Advisor Fund’s financing supports PHSU’s ability to expand its degree program in psychology, nursing, biology, pharmacy and dental. Additionally, the project offers primary care, dental and a behavioral health clinic for adult and pediatric patients.
Brown Precision, Inc. | Atmore, AL
Industry – Manufacturing
The Valued Advisor Fund provided financing for the purchase of equipment and fixtures for the vehicle component manufacturer’s facility. The flexible financing supported the company’s growth without constraining its working capital resources. The company coordinates with the local community college and workforce development center to engage students interested in technology and manufacturing. In addition to working with outside agencies to develop a skilled workforce, Brown Precision offers in-house training programs and scholarships to tech schools for employees to obtain proper certifications for career advancement. Brown Precision’s workforce is expected to nearly double due to the Valued Advisor Fund’s investment.
Pahrump Community Health Center, LLC | Pahrump, NV
Industry – Healthcare
The Valued Advisor Fund provided financing for land acquisition and predevelopment expenses for Pahrump Community Health Center located in a rural community. The project supports cost-efficient care tailored to the community’s health needs and alleviates transportation obstacles faced by vulnerable residents in the low-income community. According to the Sponsor, nearly 80% of residents had to travel more than 100 miles round trip to receive needed specialty healthcare services. In partnership with a nonprofit, the Sponsor will offer free health and wellness programming. An estimated 3,000 residents will be screened for diseases, offered wellness classes and healthcare education.
VAF leadership
- Tyler Inda, Executive Director
- Jason Penn, Community Relations Officer
Advisory Board Chair
- Jeannine Jacokes, Chief Executive Officer, Partners for the Common Good
Advisory Board Members
- Nicole Elam, President & CEO, National Bankers Association
- Charlena Brown, Founder, Sepia Transformation Partners
- Melissa McDonald, Chief Operating Officer, Raza Development Fund
- Amir Ali, Vice President of Community Facilities Lending, Low Income Investment Fund
Community involvement
The Valued Advisor Fund board and committee members demonstrate their commitment to communities by serving on local and national boards, and being active industry association members.
- New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Coalition
- National Housing & Rehabilitation Association
- NMTC Steering Committee
- Legislative Steering Committee
- Community Impact Working Group
- Opportunity Finance Network
- National Leased Housing Association
- National Leased Housing Education Fund
- National Housing Conference
- Housing Advisory Group
Additional information
Industry resources
VAF applications
VAF leadership
In accordance with federal law and U. S. Department of the Treasury policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to Department of the Treasury, Office of Civil Rights and Diversity, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D. C. 20220 or call (202) 622-1160.
Valued Advisor Fund is an Equal Opportunity provider