More than 109 investments totaling $17.8 million were in community-based initiatives and organizations by the Community Development Finance Authority in its last fiscal year.

The CDFA said the investments made the investments community development, economic development and clean energy projects throughout the state in the fiscal year that ran from July 2019 through June 2020.

The agency said the projects’ impacts were felt in 46 communities and represent an approximate 36% year-over-year increase in the number of initiatives supported, and a more than 11% increase in funds deployed. Business donor engagement increased by almost 14% year over year, according to the agency.

Katy Easterly Martey, CDFA’s executive director, said the fiscal year “was an unprecedented time for New Hampshire residents, businesses and our communities.”

As the pandemic set in, the agency “quickly adapted its business operations while increasing our deployment of resources and continuing to maintain focus on serving nonprofits, municipalities and businesses at a time when they needed us most.”

She said CDFA’s resources supported nonprofits, municipalities, businesses and microenterprises through the pandemic, helped create new jobs, increased access to affordable child care, helped strengthen Main Streets, created healthy and safe affordable housing, increased energy efficiency, improved public facilities and supported emergency situation funding.

The total impact during the 2020 fiscal year, according to the agency, was:

• 179,920 people assisted

• 159 housing units were rehabbed, preserved or created

• 249 jobs were created or retained

• 340 microbusinesses were supported

• 133,773 square feet developed or rehabbed

• An estimated $143,000 saved in annual energy costs

CDFA’s commitment to New Hampshire’s communities and its partners has been reinforced by the crisis, said Easterly Martey.

“We remain steadfast in accomplishing these goals and look forward to doing so with the support of our partners.”