Colusa Indian Community Council Wins NAFOA’s Government Impact Deal of the Year: Award Highlights Strategic Financing and Tribal-Led Healthcare Innovation
- Gary Hansen
- May 6
- 2 min read
Colusa, CA — The Colusa Indian Community Council (CICC) was recognized with the prestigious Government Impact Deal of the Year Award at the 18th Annual NAFOA Leadership Awards, held in New Orleans on April 29, 2025. This honor celebrates the Tribe’s bold leadership and financial innovation in redeveloping a long-abandoned grocery store into a cutting-edge specialty health clinic in downtown Colusa, California.
The award-winning project—supported by $16 million in bank financing and $26 million in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocations—represents a breakthrough in Tribal community development. Financing was orchestrated with strategic advisory from TFA Capital Partners and The Whitman Group, and backed by key partners including Bank of America and the California Statewide Communities Development Corporation (CSCDC).
This initiative was further strengthened by unified financial leadership across the Tribe’s enterprises. Theresa Dwinger, who serves as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for both the Colusa Indian Community Council and Colusa Indian Energy (CIE), played a central role in aligning fiscal strategy across the project. Her leadership is a testament to how shared governance and Tribal collaboration can accelerate impactful outcomes.
By creatively combining a 10-year loan with NMTCs, the project yielded over $4 million in net benefit, along with the flexibility of penalty-free early repayment—a rare achievement in community development finance.
When completed, the new facility is projected to triple patient visits by 2026 and provide essential specialty care services such as internal medicine, cardiology, and women’s health. In doing so, the clinic will not only expand access for Tribal members but also benefit the broader Colusa region—especially underserved, low-income, and minority populations.
The NAFOA Government Impact Deal of the Year Award recognizes Tribal governments that lead with innovation and purpose in building sovereign economies. For Colusa, it affirms a broader vision of self-determination, wellness, and inter-agency collaboration.
Media Contact:
Marketing Department Colusa Indian EnergyMarketing@colusaindianenergy.com
Phone: (509) 308-7618
