2008 proved to be a milestone year in both funding and visibility for The Loan Fund. As the organization continued lending through an unfolding credit crisis, the New Mexico SBIC bolstered its commitment with another $2 million investment, bringing SBIC’s total capital infusion to over $5 million and making The Loan Fund its single largest alternative lending partner in the state. This substantial backing during turbulent times enabled The Loan Fund to keep credit flowing to small businesses when many banks pulled back. Additionally, The Loan Fund stepped onto the national stage in 2008 by co-hosting the Opportunity Finance Network’s annual conference in Albuquerque, a gathering of CDFIs and community lenders from across the country. Hosting this prominent industry event showcased New Mexico’s success in community development finance and allowed The Loan Fund to share strategies with peers nationwide. That same year, The Loan Fund also began publishing free small-business advice columns through Finance New Mexico, with practical tips ranging from cash-flow management to marketing; these articles were picked up by over 30 newspapers around the state, amplifying the organization’s educational outreach. In the midst of the Great Recession, The Loan Fund shone as a beacon of innovative finance, supported by robust state investment and recognized as a leader in the national CDFI community.