THE CFC STORY

CFC originally began as the Cook Financial Corporation as a means for the Cook family to assist its employees with no-interest loans rather than acquiring a bank loan. By the 1970s the loan program was no longer necessary. During this time, the corporation morphed into a real estate development and management company. Bill Cook did not want his name to be part of the new company name, so it remained as only CFC. Years later, “Properties” was added to the name to help clarify the business.

“We love historic buildings’ character, history and beauty. We’ve seen the impact preservation projects can have on people’s daily lives.”
– Bill Cook

CFC’s original board members included Bill Cook, Dan Sterner, Miles Kanne, Phil Hathaway, and Steve Ferguson. Steve Ferguson was the first President of CFC. Following Ferguson’s leadership, Jim Murphy was named President in 1993.

What began as Bill and Gayle Cook’s, founders of CFC, passion for restoring historic and architecturally significant structures eventually sparked the revitalization of downtown Bloomington, Indiana, additional areas within Indiana, and Canton, Illinois. Their efforts lead to preserving timeless pieces of history, including over a century of embodied energy, and boosting the economic climate of multiple communities allowing residents and businesses to thrive.

The greatest resource in the Cook’s restoration efforts has been CFC Properties. CFC services four industries within the marketplace – commercial, retail, residential, and hospitality. Operating nearly half a century, CFC’s portfolio has fluctuated with an abundance of commercial, retail, residential, and hospitality properties.