PITTSBURGH, October 18, 2006 – CL Fund is one step closer to increasing its lending capital by $22 million, thanks to today’s announcement of a $500,000 investment from First Commonwealth Bank.

The funds will directly support small businesses in their efforts to grow profitably and increase employment.

“With the new lending capital, we are closer to our goal than ever before,” said Mark Peterson, Executive Director, CL Fund.  “As demonstrated time and time again, companies like First Commonwealth continue to support our vision of transforming the regional economy one dollar at a time.”

These dollars have positively affected small businesses throughout the region.  Filmet, a full service visual solutions company specializing in imaging and printing needs, benefited from the financial backing of both CL Fund and First Commonwealth Bank.   After September 11, 2001, part of Filmet’s trade show and exhibit market took a downturn and a major client closed its Pittsburgh office.  With working capital support, the Tarentum-based company was able to transition into cutting-edge technology, break into new markets, and increase its employment.

According to Peterson, CL Fund has leveraged its ability to attract financing for its borrowers from $0.79 per CL Fund dollar in 2001 to $9.90 per CL Fund dollar in 2006.  The leveraged amount is expected to rise as CL Fund gets closer to its $22 million goal.

“First Commonwealth is proud to be working with CL Fund because they help us to help the communities in which we operate,” said Carson Greene, Jr., Senior Vice President, First Commonwealth Bank.  “Our local communities are important to us – First Commonwealth will continue to support these communities by striving to enhance the quality of life for each local citizen.”