The federal Treasury department awarded more than $2 million to three North Carolina financial institutions as part of the single largest round of financing for community development funds.
The U.S. Treasury Department announced nearly $105 million to 180 local financial institutions in 44 states and the District of Columbia.
The grants are intended to expand access to capital and affordable financial services in underserved areas.
In this state, the feds awarded $750,000 to the Latino Community Credit Union and $750,000 to Self-Help Federal Credit Union, both in Durham.
A grant of $597,178 went to the Greater Kinston Credit Union.
The North Carolina grants will largely be used to increase lending to local businesses.
John Murawski has been a full-time newspaper reporter since 1991, with stints at Legal Times and The Chronicle of Philanthropy (both in Washington, DC), The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Palm Beach Post (in South Florida) before arriving at the N&O in December 2004. At the N&O he covers energy (nuclear, coal, renewable, efficiency), hydralic fracturing (or "fracking"), public utilities (both electric and natural gas) and health care. His beat includes Progress Energy, PSNC Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, PowerSecure International, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Biogen Idec and others. You can reach him at 919-829-8932 or