The New York State CDFI Coalition, a group that includes New York City-based Spring Bank, is renewing its push for a state-level version of the CDFI Fund. Their advocacy started in the mid-2000’s and succeeded in establishing the New York State CDFI Fund. But the agency has never received any actual funding, the victim of a perfect storm that included Governor Eliot Spitzer’s resignation and the 2009 financial crisis. A state fund would not only expand award coverage for the state’s CDFIs -- it would also provide match funding for federal CDFI Fund award applications. The Coalition is now advocating for an appropriation of $15 million. “It’s been a long process. I think we’re getting close to the point where there’s support within the legislature and the governor’s office,” says Melanie Stern, director of consumer lending at Spring Bank.