The RCLF Story

The History of Renaissance Community Loan Fund

Hurricane Katrina in South Mississippi

Hurricane Katrina hit South Mississippi in August 2005. In the devastating storm’s wake lay some of the greatest structural devastation from a natural disaster in the history of the United States.

Gulf Coast Renaissance Corporation

But amid the flooded ruins, hope found a way to float through the vision of several South Mississippi community and business leaders, organized as The Gulf Coast Business Council. The nonprofit group had the foresight to understand the key to the area’s recovery would be a unified effort focused on redevelopment. In mid 2006, the council created Gulf Coast Renaissance Corporation to help rebuild the Mississippi Gulf Coast by bridging the gap in the need for safe and affordable workforce housing.

Renaissance Community Loan Fund

Since then, Renaissance Community Loan Fund has grown in capacity, reach, and product offering. Now rebranded as RCLF and offering services to the people of Mississippi and Alabama, RCLF has become a Community Development Financial Institution, been designated as an SBA micro-lender, certified as a Community Development Entity (CDE) and approved as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO).

RCLF helps make distinct improvements to the Mississippi and Alabama communities by promoting community and economic development. Our success has been marked by our ability to:

  • Understand community needs
  • Create a highly qualified team to meet those needs
  • Develop a customized and thoughtful approach to the programs we implement and manage
  • Proactively define and achieve short-term and long-term objectives for our programs

RCLF Milestones

2006

Founding

The Gulf Coast Renaissance Corporation is founded.

REACH Program Launches

The Regional Employer Assisted Housing Program is launched, funding 179 homes.

August 2008
April 2009

MyHome MyCoast Program Launches

Renaissance launches MyHome MyCoast, funding 651 homes.

CFDI Status

Renaissance receives additional funding from the governor due to the successful deployment of allocated funds and receives certification as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).

January 2010
September 2011

Commercial Lending

Renaissance Community Loan Fund begins offering commercial loans to Mississippi businesses.

Federal Home Loan Bank Dallas Member

Renaissance is accepted as Mississippi’s first non-bank CDFI institution member by FHLB Dallas

April 2012
August 2012

CDFI Financial Award

Selected as Mississippi’s only organization to receive CDFI financial award of $1.453 million.

Renaissance began program geared to storm mitigation and energy efficient improvements.

November 2012
December 2013

SBA Community Advantage Lender

Renaissance becomes an SBA Community Advantage Lender and enjoys public-private partnership success with grand opening of Riverside independent senior complex.

SBA Microlender Award

Renaissance is selected as the only Mississippi-based SBA Micro-Lender.

September 2015
January 2016

RCLF In-House Counseling & Training

Renaissance launches dedicated in-house financial counseling and training facility.

CDFI Award

Renaissance is awarded $1.15 million through US Treasury/CDFI for financial assistance.

September 2016
November 2016
Habitat for Humanity ReStore NMTC Project

NMTC Allocation

Renaissance is awarded $15 million New Markets Tax Credit Allocation.

Renaissance Re-Brand

Renaissance is rebranded to “Renaissance Community Loan Fund.”

March 2017
August 2017

Tupelo Expansion

RCLF expands to North Mississippi by opening an office in Tupelo.

RCLF is awarded $976.5k from CFDI Fund/CORE Grant Program

September 2017
May 2018

Jackson Expansion

RCLF expands to Central Mississippi by opening an office in Jackson.

Grand Opening

RCLF holds a Grand Opening for a new, larger corporate office in Gulfport.

March 2019
2020

MS Home Corporation awards RCLF $1.5M for funding veteran housing.

Becoming a PPP lender

RCLF provides $1.3M to Mississippi small businesses as an approved Paycheck Protection Program lender.

2020
2020
Home Purchase Advisors

HUD Certification

RCLF becomes a certified HUD Housing Counseling Agency.

PPP client Cowboys Grill

PPP Lending for Small Businesses

Provides an additional $3.5 million to Mississippi small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program.

2021
2021

The CDFI Fund awards RCLF $1.8M under its Rapid Response Program.

Fannie Mae Grant Recipient

Fannie Mae grants RCLF a $50k grant to increase housing access in high-need rural and rural Mississippi counties.

2021
2021

RCLF is awarded $40.6k from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

SBA Top Micro Lender Award

RCLF is awarded by the Small Business Administration for the Top Loan Volume and Top Dollar Microloan in 2021.

2021
2022
RCLF Commercial team

SBA Top Micro Lender Award

RCLF is awarded by the Small Business Administration for the Top Loan Volume and Top Dollar Microloan for the second year in a row

RCLF Mobile, Alabama office

Expansion into AL

RCLF expands into Alabama, now offering our commercial and mortgage services in two states.

2023
2024
NeighborWorks America Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith RCLF

Funding Success

RCLF is accepted into NeighborWorks America
RCLF receives $10M Bond Loan from OFN
RCLF receives SSBCI funds

Contact Us

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Gulfport, MS

8917 Lorraine Rd
Gulfport, MS 39503
(228) 896-3326

Hattiesburg, MS

301 Buschman St
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(228) 896-3326

Mobile, AL

574 Azalea Rd, Suite 124
Mobile, AL 36609
(228) 896-3326

Tupelo, MS

431 W. Main Street, Ste 400
Tupelo, MS 38804
(228) 896-3326

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