Hope Enterprise Corporation (“Hope”) is a nationally recognized Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to strengthening communities, building assets, and improving lives in under-resourced communities throughout Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Through its network of financial inclusion offices, credit union branches, and advocacy initiatives, Hope provides affordable banking services, homeownership support, small business financing, and financial education to communities historically excluded from traditional financial systems.

To further its mission, Hope is leveraging NMTC financing to develop the Hope Economic Empowerment Center (HEEC), a 13,442 sq. ft. financial services and resource hub located in Jackson, Mississippi. The center will address persistent economic distress, financial exclusion, and the lack of capital access for minority-owned businesses. It will include a 10,000 sq. ft. Hope Credit Union branch offering full-service banking, mortgage lending, and small business financing, along with 3,000 sq. ft. of community space dedicated to financial literacy workshops, homebuyer education, entrepreneurial training, and community events in partnership with local nonprofits and advocacy groups.

Services Provided by Classic Lake:

• New Markets Tax Credit Advisory

Community and Economic Impacts

• 200 construction jobs

• 10 new full-time jobs and 10 retained jobs

• Provides financial services and products to over 4,000 individuals annually

• Provides financial education and literacy services to over 4,000 individuals annually

• Hosts over 25 community community events annually serving over 1,000 participants