Building Inclusive Communities, Together.

Access to capital transforms what is possible.

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Dream big, and City First Enterprises will help you make it happen with our customized approach to lending.

Yes, you can develop more affordable housing, expand childcare enrollment, or scale your nonprofit. You can carry more inventory for your small business, upgrade systems for energy efficiency, or finally buy that building.

CFE is people-focused, history-informed, and data-driven. We are members of and experts in the communities we serve. As a mission-focused lender, we get capital where it makes the most impact—for you, your family, and your community to thrive.

How can we help you?

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Borrow

Accessible capital with flexible terms

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Spark change

Social, financial, and environmental returns

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Homes by CFE

Our 2019-2024 Impact

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Learn more about our impact

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What Happens When DC Entrepreneurs Stop Renting—and Start Owning?

For business owners, owning the space they operate in can be transformative. It provides stability instead of uncertainty, investment instead of rent, and a platform to build long-term wealth rooted in the community. At City First Enterprises (CFE), this belief drives everything we do—and it’s the heart of our work as grant administrator for the Commercial Property Acquisition Fund (CPAF), a program of DC’s Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED).

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