Grow America (formerly NDC), the nation’s most experienced and comprehensive nonprofit organization dedicated to community and economic development, commends the FBI for their thorough investigation and arrests of individuals accused of conspiring to defraud the Connecticut Small Business Boost Program and the Washington state Small Business Flex Fund.
As a national organization with over five decades of experience, Grow America has worked across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to expand economic opportunity, especially in underserved communities. Our work has included the distribution of COVID relief funds, the financing of affordable housing, support for small businesses in economically depressed regions, and the training of future economic development professionals.
We were proud to assist law enforcement in uncovering this alleged fraud. In 2023, our team detected suspicious activity among a group of borrowers and promptly reported our concerns to the appropriate authorities. Throughout the ensuing investigation, we worked closely with the FBI, providing detailed records and critical data that played a key role in identifying the accused.
As described in the DOJ release, Grow America was the victim of a sophisticated criminal enterprise, run by five individuals, that included fraudulent certificates of organization, false income statements, false balance sheets, and false tax returns.
If convicted, we are especially appalled that this group attempted to divert funding specifically intended to uplift small businesses and nonprofits – entities that form the backbone of our communities and drive job creation in Connecticut and Washington.
Grow America remains committed to upholding the integrity of the programs we help to deliver. We will continue to take a zero-tolerance stance on fraud and abuse and will remain vigilant in protecting public funds from those who seek to exploit them.
We are honored to partner with the States of Connecticut and Washington and look forward to continuing our support of their vibrant and innovative small business communities for years to come.