Centro Community Partner is one of the finalists for the Truist Foundation Inspire Awards, and we would love to invite our community to support us by registering for the event and voting for Centro
Centro awarded an eBay Foundation Global Give grant for the third year!
At Centro Community Partners, we are thrilled to announce that we have been selected once again as recipients of the eBay Foundation Global Give grant for the year 2023. This marks the third time we've had the honor of receiving this generous grant, and we are immensely grateful to the eBay Foundation for their continued support of our mission to empower low-income women and minority entrepreneurs.
Last year, we were fortunate to be among the grantees of the 2022 Global Give grant program, and this support played a pivotal role in enabling us to make significant strides in advancing access to capital, offering personalized business advisory services, and providing capacity-building programs to other nonprofits. Through this collaboration, we were able to collectively impact the lives of over 150 underrepresented entrepreneurs in both the Bay Area and New York City, fostering growth and economic opportunity in communities that needed it the most.
The eBay Foundation has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to promoting entrepreneurship among historically marginalized groups. Since its inception in 1998, the foundation has been partnering with nonprofit organizations dedicated to dismantling barriers to entrepreneurship for individuals from diverse backgrounds. Their belief that successful entrepreneurs contribute to more resilient and vibrant communities aligns seamlessly with our own mission.
We are committed to making the most of this year's Global Give grant to continue our vital work in empowering women and minority entrepreneurs.
Thank you once again to the eBay Foundation for their unwavering support. Together, we are making a difference, serving one entrepreneur at a time!
You can learn more about the eBay Global Give grant here.
2023 Q2 Update
We are excited to share some updates regarding our impact in helping entrepreneurs access training, coaching and capital. You can now see our latest impact statistics on our Overview page. We also want to celebrate and thank you for your support on the pre-sale campaign of Arturo’s new book.
ENTREPRENEURS SERVED
In the first half of 2023, we served 551 entrepreneurs, 167 of whom attended our training programs.
Through our programs, the Capital Hub and our app, we are on track to help more than 1,089 entrepreneurs by the end of this year.
As we continuously strive to support entrepreneurs, we are excited to introduce the beta version of our latest initiative: the Online Self-Paced Bootcamp. This innovative and flexible learning opportunity is specifically designed for entrepreneurs who are unable to attend a scheduled online course or prefer to learn at their own pace. With a range of self-paced learning modules that include video and written lessons, this beta version provides a valuable opportunity for individuals to engage in independent study and shape the future direction of the program.
ACCESS TO CAPITAL
Our Capital Hub has been helping entrepreneurs access interest-free loans through Kiva, and we are proud to announce that over the last three months, we helped 23 entrepreneurs receive a total of $211,000 in Kiva loans.
We have significantly improved the repayment rate to 89% (from 69% in 2019), showing the commitment of borrowers to pay their loans on time, as well as the positive use of the Centro Business Planning App. All borrowers that are not backed by an organization are required to go to the business planning activities on our app which help them think through their business model, which mitigates the risk of them falling behind on repayments.
This achievement not only highlights their dedication to the success of their businesses but also emphasizes the effectiveness of our support systems, including the Centro Business Planning App.
Through the SEED initiative, Immigrants Rising offers grants to entrepreneurs who are starting or growing a business in California. The opportunity is intended for undocumented individuals and people who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporoary Protected Status (TPS), as well as those with limited English proficiency. This funding aims to empower immigrants to become successful business owners, contributing to the local economy and their communities. The Centro Capital Hub was able to provide support with the application process and helped 7 entrepreneurs apply for the Immigrants Rising’s SEED $5,000 Grant.
ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE
Our team of coaches has been working to provide one-on-one coaching to 113 entrepreneurs in the first half of this year to support them in specific challenges with their businesses. We are on track to support 226 entrepreneurs by the end of the year.
We have provided a total of 13,406 hours of coaching since we started, and in 2023, we have already provided 186 hours of coaching to entrepreneurs in many locations, with most of them located in Oakland, San Jose, Santa Clara, Stockton and other Bay Area counties.
THANKS FOR SUPPORTING THE PRE-SALE OF “IN PURSUIT OF A NOBLE CAUSE” NEW BOOK BY ARTURO NORIEGA
We're happy to share that Arturo Noriega's pre-sale campaign for his upcoming book, "In Pursuit of a Noble Cause" has been a resounding success!
During the pre-order period, Arturo received overwhelming support from eager readers and advocates of positive change. By securing a pre-order, you have not only demonstrated your enthusiasm for this exceptional book but have also ensured that you will be among the first to receive it upon its release in September.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the supporters who participated in Arturo Noriega's pre-sale campaign. Your unwavering enthusiasm and commitment have played an instrumental role in making this campaign a resounding success. By pre-ordering the book, you have secured your place as one of the first recipients when it officially releases in September.
As we eagerly await the release of "In Pursuit of a Noble Cause," let us celebrate Arturo's triumph and anticipate the invaluable wisdom that awaits us within the pages of this remarkable book.
Socio destacado de E-Suite: Urban Business Support
Hoy queremos destacar a uno de nuestros socios destacados de E-Suite, Urban Business Suppor, una organización sin fines de lucro con sede en Washington dedicada a apoyar a empresas propiedad de mujeres y minorías.
Oliver Scott es el director ejecutivo de Urban Business Support. Su misión es brindar capacitación en planificación empresarial y asistencia financiera a pequeñas empresas. Urban Business Support cree firmemente que las inversiones en comunidades de bajos ingresos deben beneficiar a las personas que viven y trabajan allí.
"Nuestra visión es el desarrollo sin desplazamiento. Creemos que la inversión en comunidades de bajos ingresos debe beneficiar a las personas que viven y trabajan allí. Y nuestra misión es brindar capacitación en planificación empresarial a empresas en vecindarios en proceso de gentrificación. También brindamos asistencia financiera en forma de subvenciones a estos propietarios de negocios". - Oliver
El Camino de Construir Una Organización
Urban Business Support ha sido nuestro socio de E-Suite desde 2018. Oliver recordó su relación de larga data con Centro Community Partners, ya que conoce a Arturo Noriega, fundador y CEO de Centro, desde que se fundó la organización.
Compartió cómo Urban Business Support comenzó a utilizar la Centro Business Planning App y nuestro plan de estudios para brindar una capacitación integral en planificación empresarial a sus emprendedores. La asociación con Centro desempeñó un papel crucial para que Urban Business Support despegara, brindándoles orientación y materiales.
"Comencé a impartir capacitación en planificación empresarial y conocía la aplicación de planificación empresarial de Centro. Inmediatamente fui a hablar con Arturo y Naldo al respecto, ya que sabía que quería usar la aplicación. Así que cuando decidí comenzar una organización, contacté de inmediato a Centro. De lo contrario, no conocía a nadie más a quien quisiera usar para el plan de estudios, y no quería diseñar el mío propio, por lo que Centro proporcionó la solución perfecta, la Suite de Emprendimiento. Y gracias a eso pude comenzar esta organización". - Oliver
Desatando el potencial EMPRENDEDOR
Urban Business Support se enfoca principalmente en servir a empresas propiedad de mujeres y minorías en vecindarios en transición. Oliver reconoce los desafíos que enfrentan los emprendedores en estas comunidades, particularmente en el acceso a capital. Para abordar esto, Urban Business Support inició un programa de subvenciones para ofrecer asistencia financiera a emprendedores que a menudo no son elegibles para préstamos tradicionales. Ofrecen $5,000 al mejor plan de negocios entre sus graduados. Este apoyo financiero no solo ayuda a los emprendedores a superar las barreras de financiamiento, sino que también les proporciona los recursos necesarios para prosperar y tener éxito en sus emprendimientos comerciales.
Urban Business Support se dedica a empoderar a los emprendedores y realiza anualmente doce campamentos y cuatro programas de emprendimiento con el plan de estudios de Centro. Los campamentos, diseñados para ser intensivos y eficientes en tiempo, brindan a los participantes una versión condensada de la capacitación en planificación empresarial utilizando la aplicación de planificación empresarial de Centro. Por otro lado, los programas de emprendimiento ofrecen un plan de estudios más completo, equipando a los participantes con una comprensión más profunda de varios aspectos del desarrollo empresarial.
Desde su fundación, Urban Business Support ha capacitado con éxito a un impresionante grupo de aproximadamente 300 emprendedores. "Mi primer objetivo era capacitar a 100 emprendedores, y llegamos a 75. Nuestro segundo año, lo hicimos muy bien, capacitando a unos 160".
Solo en el año fiscal actual, 70 emprendedores ya se han beneficiado de los programas transformadores de Urban Business Support. Esto demuestra el compromiso de la organización de fomentar un ecosistema empresarial próspero y empoderar a las personas para que logren sus objetivos comerciales.
Afrontando desafíos y construyendo hacia metas futuras
A pesar de sus logros, Oliver reconoció los desafíos que enfrentan al mantener asociaciones de referencia, lo que resultó en una ligera disminución en la participación en los programas. Oliver se mantiene firme en sus esfuerzos por restaurar estas asociaciones y cumplir con el objetivo de capacitar a 250 emprendedores para este año fiscal. Oliver enfatizó que Urban Business Support ofrece subvenciones de $5,000 para premiar el plan de negocios más ejemplar de sus emprendedores graduados, brindando un poderoso incentivo para el éxito empresarial.
Oliver también enfatizó que el apoyo de Centro Community Partners, especialmente a través de su aplicación y plan de estudios, desempeñó un papel vital en el éxito de Urban Business Support. El plan de estudios y el apoyo de Centro permitieron a Urban Business Support aprovechar su potencial para lograr un impacto positivo. Oliver también compartió que ha recomendado la E-Suite de Centro a otras organizaciones, reconociendo el valor que ofrece al empoderar a los emprendedores.
Urban Business Support, bajo el liderazgo de Oliver Scott, ha logrado avances significativos en el empoderamiento de emprendedores en vecindarios en proceso de gentrificación. A través de su asociación con Centro, han podido brindar valiosa capacitación en planificación empresarial y asistencia financiera, ayudando a los emprendedores a hacer realidad sus sueños al tiempo que contribuyen al desarrollo de la comunidad. Con su compromiso con el crecimiento inclusivo y su dedicación a su misión, Urban Business Support continúa creando un impacto duradero en las comunidades a las que sirven.
"Si no fuera por Centro, no habría podido iniciar la organización. La aplicación de planificación empresarial de Centro es increíble, cubre los conceptos básicos de un plan de negocios, y podemos hacerlo en un campamento intensivo de un día. Si no fuera por la aplicación y el plan de estudios de Centro, no estaríamos donde estamos hoy". - Oliver Scott
Si desea obtener más información sobre cómo también podemos ayudar a su organización, contáctenos en esuite@centrocommunity.org. ¡También estaremos encantados de responder cualquier pregunta sobre nuestro plan de estudios actual, herramientas de aprendizaje y enseñanza y el apoyo que brindamos a las organizaciones!
Featured E-Suite Partner: Urban Business Support
Today we want to highlight one of our Featured E-Suite Partners, Urban Business Support, a non-profit organization based in Washington dedicated to supporting women and minority-owned businesses.
Oliver Scott, is the Executive Director of Urban Business Support. Their mission is to provide business plan training and financial assistance to small businesses. Urban Business Support firmly believes that investments in low-income communities should benefit the people who live and work there.
“Our vision is development without displacement. We believe that investment in low-income communities should come to the benefit of the people who live and work there. And our mission is to provide business plan training to businesses in gentrifying neighborhoods. We also provide financial assistance in the form of grants to these business owners.” - Oliver
The Journey of Building an Organization
Urban Business Support has been our E-Suite Partner since 2018. Oliver recounted his longstanding relationship with Centro Community Partners, having known Arturo Noriega, Founder and CEO of Centro since the organization was founded.
He shared how Urban Business Support started using Centro Business Planning App and our curriculum to provide comprehensive business plan training to their entrepreneurs. The partnership with Centro played a crucial role in getting Urban Business Support off the ground, providing them with guidance and materials.
“I started doing business plan training, and I knew about the Centro Business Planning App. I immediately went to Arturo and Naldo to talk about it, as I knew that I wanted to use the app. So when I decided to start an organization, I immediately contacted Centro first. Otherwise, I didn't know of anybody else that I wanted to use for the curriculum, and I didn't want to design my own, so Centro provided the perfect solution for it, the Entrepreneurship Suite. And thanks to that I was able to start this organization.” - Oliver
Unleashing Entrepreneurial Potential
Urban Business Support primarily focuses on serving women and minority-owned businesses in transitioning neighborhoods. Oliver acknowledges the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in these communities, particularly in accessing capital. To address this, Urban Business Support initiated a grant program to offer financial assistance to entrepreneurs who are often ineligible for traditional loans. They offer $5,000 to the best business plan among their graduates. This financial support not only helps entrepreneurs overcome funding barriers but also provides them with the necessary resources to thrive and succeed in their business ventures.
Urban Business Support is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and annually conducts twelve boot camps and four entrepreneurship programs with Centro’s curriculum. The bootcamps, designed to be intensive and time-efficient, provide participants with a condensed version of the business plan training using the Centro Business Planning App. On the other hand, the entrepreneurship programs offer a more comprehensive curriculum, equipping participants with a deeper understanding of various aspects of business development.
Since its foundation, Urban Business Support has successfully trained an impressive cohort of approximately 300 entrepreneurs. “My first goal was to train 100 entrepreneurs, and we made it to 75. Our second year, we did really well, training about 160.”
In the current fiscal year alone, 70 entrepreneurs have already benefited from Urban Business Support’s transformative programs. This demonstrates the organization's commitment to fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and empowering individuals to achieve their business goals.
Embracing Challenges and Building Towards Future Goals
Despite their achievements, Oliver acknowledged the challenges faced in maintaining referral partnerships, which resulted in a slight decline in program participation. Oliver remains resolute in his efforts to restore these partnerships and fulfill their objective of training 250 entrepreneurs for this fiscal year. Oliver emphasized that Urban Business Support grants of $5,000 to award the most exemplary business plan from their graduating entrepreneurs, providing a powerful incentive for entrepreneurial success.
Oliver also emphasized that the support from Centro Community Partners, especially through their app and curriculum, played a vital role in Urban Business Supports success. Centro's curriculum and support enabled Urban Business Support to secure their potential for positive impact. Oliver also shared that he has recommended Centro Entrepreneurship Suite to other organizations, recognizing the value it offers in empowering entrepreneurs.
Urban Business Support, under the leadership of Oliver Scott, has made significant strides in empowering entrepreneurs in gentrifying neighborhoods. Through their partnership with Centro, they have been able to provide valuable business plan training and financial assistance, helping entrepreneurs realize their dreams while contributing to community development. With their commitment to inclusive growth and dedication to their mission, Urban Business Support continues to create a lasting impact in the communities they serve.
“If it wasn't for Centro, I wouldn't have been able to get the organization started. The Centro Business Planning App is amazing, it covers the basics of a business plan, and we're able to do it in a Bootcamp in just one day. If it weren't for the App and for Centro's curriculum we wouldn't be where we are today.” - Oliver Scott
If you want to learn more about how we can also help your organization, please contact us at esuite@centrocommunity.org. We are also happy to answer any questions about our current curriculum, learning and teaching tools, and the support we provide to organizations!
Quarterly Capital Hub Update
In this quarterly Capital Hub update, we are excited to share the latest updates of the Centro Capital Hub. We will provide an overview of the capital accessed by our entrepreneurs, highlight the progress in repayment rates with Kiva, and discuss the demographics of our entrepreneurs accessing capital through our hub.
2023 QUARTERLY CAPITAL HUB UPDATE
From January to May, we have continued to support small businesses by facilitating access to capital. Through our Centro Capital Hub, we are proud to announce that we have helped secure a total of $120,500 in Kiva loans. This capital has been distributed among 15 deserving entrepreneurs who are determined to fuel the growth of their businesses.
REPAYMENT RATE: STRONG COMMITMENT TO SUCCESS
We have significantly improved the repayment rate to 89% (from 69% in 2019), showing the commitment of borrowers to pay their loans on time, as well as the positive use of the Centro Business Planning App. All borrowers that are not backed by an organization are required to go to the business planning activities on our app which help them think through their business model, which mitigates the risk of them falling behind on repayments.
We are pleased to report that our borrowers have showcased exceptional commitment to repay their Kiva loans promptly. With an impressive repayment rate of 88.5%, we have witnessed firsthand the determination and responsible financial practices demonstrated by the entrepreneurs we support.
This achievement not only highlights their dedication to the success of their businesses but also emphasizes the effectiveness of our support systems, including the Centro Business Planning App.
CAPITAL HUB DEMOGRAPHICS: BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE ECOSYSTEM
At Centro, we strive to create an inclusive ecosystem that empowers entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. In line with our mission, the businesses that have accessed our Capital Hub during 2023 continue to be led by a remarkable group of individuals:
Women: Nine of the businesses accessing our Capital Hub are led by women. We are proud to support these visionary women who are making significant strides in their respective industries.
Immigrants and People of Color (POC): Twelve of the businesses accessing our Capital Hub are led by immigrants and individuals from various POC communities. Their dedication to entrepreneurship and their determination to succeed in a new environment inspire us all.
Latinx: Ten Latinx entrepreneurs have leveraged the resources of our Capital Hub to fuel their businesses. We celebrate their contributions to the local economy and the vibrant cultural tapestry of our communities.
Black: Two Black entrepreneurs have accessed our Capital Hub, bringing forth their unique perspectives and expertise to drive innovation and positive change.
We are honored to work with such a diverse group of entrepreneurs who are breaking barriers and forging their own paths in the small business world. Centro remains committed to providing equal opportunities and resources to entrepreneurs from all backgrounds, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to thrive.
GRANTS
Through the SEED initiative, Immigrants Rising offers grants to entrepreneurs who are starting or growing a business in California. The opportunity is intended for undocumented individuals and people who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporoary Protected Status (TPS), as well as those with limited English proficiency. This funding aims to empower immigrants to become successful business owners, contributing to the local economy and their communities. The Centro Capital Hub was able to provide support with the application process and helped 7 entrepreneurs apply for the Immigrants Rising’s SEED $5,000 Grant.
Please let us know if you or someone you know is interested in accessing a Kiva loan or have any questions. Carlo Arellano, Capital Access Manager: KivaUS@centrocommunity.org
How To Write A Business Plan
Free Business Plan Writing Resources from Centro Community
Centro Community Partners (Centro) is a non-profit with a mission to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Centro Community provides the following free resources:
Why and when do you as an entrepreneur need to create a business plan?
As an entrepreneur, you've probably heard people says that a business plan is an essential step when starting or expanding your business. A business plan is a document that outlines your business model, helps you think through all aspects of your business, and communicates your idea to others, such as lenders, investors, and potential customers.
There are several reasons why creating a business plan is an important step. Firstly, it helps you and your team think through all aspects of your business, including your business model, marketing, operations, and finance. Secondly, it is an essential document when you want to secure funding, obtain a commercial lease, or get investors. A business plan demonstrates that you are reliable and helps you present your financial projections, start-up costs, and other essential information.
What does a business plan include?
Your business plan should include an introduction, executive summary, market analysis, what you are selling and why people want to buy it, differentiation from competitors, price, marketing, sales strategy, operations plan, finance, start-up cost, and personal finances. It's also important to include historical finances and 1-2 years of month-to-month financial projections if you're seeking a loan.
Tips for Writing a Business Plan
Research and analyze your market thoroughly.
Be clear and concise in your writing.
Use visuals to help illustrate your ideas.
Focus on the key aspects of your business and avoid getting bogged down in unnecessary details.
Be realistic in your financial projections.
Keep your audience in mind and tailor your business plan to their needs.
Revise and edit your plan several times to ensure its accuracy and effectiveness.
Two Free Ways that Centro Helps Build Your Business Plan1
1. Centro Business Planning App
Creating a business plan may seem like a daunting task, but Centro provides the free Centro Business Planning App that guides you through the process with simple questions and activities. The app helps you create your business plan, and you can review and edit some responses as needed. You can also use the app to review your business plan every year or when you need it, such as when you're asking for a loan.
2. Entrepreneurship Programs
In addition to the app, Centro offers instructor-led programs to support entrepreneurs in creating their business plans:
The Bootcamp is a 6 hours program to develop a basic business. It is designed to help entrepreneurs complete their business plan using Centro's app. During the Bootcamp, you'll receive expert guidance from Centro's experienced facilitators, who will help you understand each step of the app and answer any questions you have along the way. You'll also have the opportunity to connect with other entrepreneurs and share ideas and experiences.
The Bootcamp program is a great way to get started with Centro's app and create a strong foundation for your business plan. The program is available to anyone who wants to create a business plan using the app, regardless of their level of experience or industry.
The Basic Entrepreneurship Program is a comprehensive program to help entrepreneurs develop the skills and knowledge they need to start or grow their business. The program consists of six modules that cover the essential aspects of entrepreneurship, from developing a business model to creating a marketing strategy.
Each module includes a mix of instructional materials, exercises, and assignments, all of which are designed to be interactive and engaging. Entrepreneurs who complete the program will have a solid foundation in business management and be well-equipped to start or grow their businesses.
The BEP is a great option for entrepreneurs who want to deepen their knowledge of entrepreneurship and learn how to build a successful business. The program is self-paced and can be completed online, making it accessible to entrepreneurs with busy schedules.
The Advanced Entrepreneurship Program is designed to help entrepreneurs take their business to the next level. The program is designed for entrepreneurs who have already established a business and want to develop a more in-depth understanding of business strategy and execution.
The AEP includes a mix of instructional materials, exercises, and assignments that are designed to be interactive and engaging. Entrepreneurs who complete the program will have a strong understanding of business strategy, marketing, operations, and finance, and will be well-equipped to grow their business and take it to new heights. The program is self-paced and can be completed online, making it accessible to entrepreneurs with busy schedules.
In conclusion, creating a business plan is a crucial step for entrepreneurs. It helps you think through all aspects of your business and communicates your idea to others. With Centro's app and programs, you can create a comprehensive and reliable business plan that will help you achieve your business goals.
Self-Paced Entrepreneurship Bootcamp by Centro Community Partners
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new Self-Paced Entrepreneurship Bootcamp (Beta version), a flexible and innovative learning opportunity designed to help entrepreneurs launch their new small businesses. This free basic entrepreneurship course guides participants through the process of creating a business plan using Centro's Business Planning App, our flagship tool to help small business entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.
The Self-Paced Entrepreneurship Bootcamp is ideal for entrepreneurs who are unable to attend a scheduled online course or prefer to learn via independent study. With self-paced learning modules that include both video and written lessons, participants can gain basic knowledge of business concepts in less than a day and complete the course on their own schedule. The course is available in English and takes around 5 hours to complete.
At the end of the course, participants will have the knowledge and tools to create a basic business plan using Centro's Business Planning App to create a basic business plan that can be used as a roadmap for starting or growing their business. The app is our flagship tool to help small business entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Entrepreneurs will also have access to additional resources and the Centro community, which provides a supportive network of entrepreneurs committed to helping each other succeed.
Our Self-Paced Entrepreneurship Bootcamp offers an innovative learning experience, delivered using Centro's Learning Management System and Business Planning App, making it easy to use and navigate. No previous education is necessary to enroll. However, we recommend participants to display a genuine dedication to starting or growing their business, and have a business idea they would like to pursue.
TAKE PART IN OUR SELF-PACED BOOTCAMP BETA PROGRAM
As a Beta Version, our new Self-Paced Entrepreneurship Bootcamp is an opportunity for entrepreneurs who want to try out our program and provide us with valuable feedback. We understand that every entrepreneur has different needs, learning styles, and preferences, and we want to make sure that our Bootcamp meets the expectations.
By enrolling in our Beta Version, entrepreneurs will have a chance to test our program, give us feedback, and help us improve our course for future entrepreneurs. Participants' input will be crucial in shaping the course content and delivery method.
ONLINE INSTRUCTOR-LED BOOTCAMP STILL AVAILABLE
For those who prefer a more structured learning experience, we also offer our regular Online Instructor-Led Bootcamp. This facilitator-led, discussion-based online course is scheduled over two sessions and takes 6 hours to complete over three weeks. This program is ideal for entrepreneurs who enjoy learning and networking with other participants and receiving live feedback from their facilitator.
We are excited to offer both bootcamp options to help entrepreneurs launch their small businesses. Whether you prefer an instructor-led course or a self-paced learning experience, we are committed to providing you with the tools and knowledge you need to succeed.
Enroll now and start your entrepreneurial journey today!
2023 Q1 Update
We are excited to share some updates regarding our impact in helping entrepreneurs access training, coaching and capital, as well as an announcement of our a new book by Centro’s Founder and CEO, Arturo Noriega. You can now see our latest impact statistics on our Overview page.
ENTREPRENEURS SERVED
In the first quarter of 2023, we served 287 entrepreneurs, 46 of whom attended our training programs.
Through our programs, the Capital Hub and our app, we are on track to help more than 1,105 entrepreneurs by the end of this year.
As we are continuously searching for new ways to support entrepreneurs, we are soon introducing the new Online Self-Paced Bootcamp, an innovative and flexible learning opportunity designed for entrepreneurs who are unable to attend a scheduled online course or prefer to learn at their own pace. With self-paced learning modules that include video and written lessons, independent study is made easy for those who learn best through this approach.
ACCESS TO CAPITAL
Our Capital Hub has been helping entrepreneurs access interest-free loans through Kiva, and we are proud to announce that over the last three months, we helped seven entrepreneurs receive a total of $63,000 in Kiva loans.
Kiva US announced they are now introducing the ability for entrepreneurs to build their credit as they pay back their Kiva loans.
If you are an entrepreneur with crowdfunding on Kiva.org, your loan profile will indicate that you will be building business credit with the help of this Kiva loan.
Commercial reporting has no restrictions on any type of business, but it is greatly important that you provide Kiva with your accurate business information, as this information is used to generate the credit report.
Decisions related to finances are affected by the information present in your business credit report, including:
The extent of business credit a supplier will offer
What repayment terms you can expect from other lenders
What interest rates you’ll be charged from other lenders
The credit or funding you may receive from a bank or lender
How your business is perceived by your customers
ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE
Our team of coaches has been working to provide one-on-one assistance to entrepreneurs to support them in specific challenges with their businesses.
We have provided a total of 13,300 hours of coaching since we started, and in 2023, we have already provided 85 hours of coaching to entrepreneurs in many locations, with most of them located in Oakland, San Jose, Santa Clara, Stockton and other Bay Area counties. By the end of the year, we anticipate providing a total of 254 hours of coaching.
IN PURSUIT OF A NOBLE CAUSE: A NEW BOOK BY ARTURO NORIEGA
We're excited to announce that Arturo Noriega, the founder and CEO of Centro Community Partners, has written a new book called "In Pursuit of a Noble Cause." This book shares Arturo's experiences and lessons learned while starting and leading Centro. Through his work, he discovered how to create more racial and gender equity in our society through entrepreneurship.
"In Pursuit of a Noble Cause" is a practical guide to help readers start and grow a mission-driven, community-focused social enterprise or nonprofit . The book is divided into three parts. In the first part, Arturo shares his personal journey and the lessons he learned from starting and leading Centro. In the second part, he explores the theory of change framework and how to apply it to social entrepreneurship. In the third part, he provides practical insights into social leadership and innovation.
The book is currently available for pre-order here until May 11. By pre-ordering the book, you'll be among the first to receive it when it's released in September.
Centro participated in the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program
We are thrilled to share that Centro Community Partners participated in the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development last week, April 18-20, 2023.
This program brought together 20 emerging leaders from 19 different countries (Cuba, Curacao, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Niue, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Kingdom of Tonga) to explore different funding options available to startups and small businesses and to learn about how American organizations assist underserved communities with access to tools and entrepreneurial education for entrepreneurial growth.
We were honored to have three of our team members, Arturo Noriega, Founder and CEO; Lelsy Arellano, Community Engagement Lead; and Luisa Chinchilla, Associate, present in this program. During the program, they had the opportunity to showcase Centro's mission and share our success stories with the global leaders.
Arturo shared Centro's social justice story and mission of promoting economic development, access to capital, and building thriving communities through entrepreneurship, as well as insights from his book "In Pursuit of A Noble Cause". Lelsy presented the Centro Business Planning App and curriculum, and Luisa presented our entrepreneur success stories and led an activity on the Centro Business Planning App.
Our team's participation in this program showcased our community impact and exchange ideas from our international peers. Presenting Centro Community Partners in the global leadership program helps to share our innovation, vision, and methodology to building better entrepreneurship ecosystems that address race and equity disparities. Our Entrepreneurship Suite (E-Suite) is one way we help other non-profits build their capacity by sharing our training methods, technology, and curriculum.
At Centro, we believe that every individual should have access to the resources and support they need to start and grow their business to achieve financial stability and economic well-being. Our participation in the IVLP program reinforced our commitment to this mission and provided us with valuable insights and inspiration from around the world.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the U.S. Department of State and Global Ties for this incredible opportunity to connect with global leaders and social innovators. We are committed to empower underserved communities through entrepreneurship and look forward to collaborating with our international peers to create positive change in the world.
In Pursuit of a Noble Cause: A New Book by Arturo Noriega
We're excited to announce that Arturo Noriega, the founder and CEO of Centro Community Partners, has written a new book called "In Pursuit of a Noble Cause." This book shares Arturo's experiences and lessons learned while starting and leading Centro. Through his work, he discovered how to create more racial and gender equity in our society through entrepreneurship.
"In Pursuit of a Noble Cause" is a practical guide to help readers start and grow a mission-driven, community-focused social enterprise or nonprofit . The book is divided into three parts. In the first part, Arturo shares his personal journey and the lessons he learned from starting and leading Centro. In the second part, he explores the theory of change framework and how to apply it to social entrepreneurship. In the third part, he provides practical insights into social leadership and innovation.
This book is an essential read for social entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and students of leadership and management who want to make a difference in their communities. Through this book, readers will discover how to better serve their community in a way that aligns with their values and inspires them to start something significant and impactful .
At Centro Community Partners, we believe that this book will serve as a valuable resource for anyone who wants to create a social impact through entrepreneurship. We encourage our readers to order their copy of "In Pursuit of a Noble Cause" today and join us in pursuing a noble cause.
The book is currently available for pre-order here. By pre-ordering the book, you'll be among the first to receive it when it's released in September. By purchasing and reading this book, you're not only gaining valuable insights and practical advice, but you're also supporting our mission to create more racial and gender equity through entrepreneurship.
We encourage you to pre-order your copy of "In Pursuit of a Noble Cause" today and participate in this critical movement. Together, we can make a difference in our communities and beyond.
2022 Summary Update
We are excited to share a high level summary of our work during 2022.
In addition to summaries of entrepreneurs served, the Centro Business Planning App, access to capital and one-on-one assistance, you can also see an overview look at our impact report here.
ENTREPRENEURS SERVED
In 2022, 467 entrepreneurs attended our programs, 356 of whom graduated. We had a total of 47 programs in English and Spanish, from which 27 were Bootcamps, 16 were Basic Entrepreneurship programs, and 4 were Advanced Entrepreneurship Programs. Learn more about our entrepreneurs and their success stories here.
ACCESS TO CAPITAL
Thanks to the support of the Centro Capital Hub, last year we helped small business owners access $1,464,500 to start and grow their businesses.
We helped provide access to 70 Kiva loans for a total of $684,000 through our Alameda and San Francisco Kiva Hubs. We also helped 13 entrepreneurs access $80,000 in grants, as well as 5 entrepreneurs access $700,000 in larger small business loans.
ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE
In 2022 we provided 719 hours of 1-on-1 assistance to 237 entrepreneurs. The majority of entrepreneurs were located in Oakland & Alameda County (37%), followed by San Jose and Santa Clara County (21%), Stockton and San Joaquin County (14%), other Bay Area Counties (10%) and other locations (18%).
CENTRO BUSINESS PLANNING APP
In 2022, we continued our work on improving the Centro Business Planning App, and we released an important app update. With the latest version of the app, entrepreneurs can now see local lenders and resources on the app in multiple languages. They will see resources that offer support in their language at the top of the list and other options that might not offer in their languages below.
Also, entrepreneurs can now update their email addresses if something changes or if they had a typo when they originally created their accounts. As entrepreneurs sign up for and use the app, they are asked to validate their email to ensure that their Business Plans and the emails connecting them to resources are sent to the right place.
We also released an App Demo video, were entrepreneurs and organizations can see how easy it is to use the app and all the features it offers, from helping entrepreneurs create their Business Plans to connect with local organizations that can help with funding and business resources.
ANNUAL UPDATE 2023
2023 ANNUAL REPORT UPDATE
We are excited to share that in 2023, we provided access to 48 Kiva loans for a total of $480,000 through our Kiva Hubs. Additionally, we helped 7 entrepreneurs access grants through the SEED initiative, Immigrants Rising (for a total of $35,000).
In 2023 Kiva launched the Endorsement Incentive program to allow endorsed applicants to receive the full loan amount they apply for. The Centro Capital Hub helped 17 entrepreneurs benefit from the Endorsement Incentive program, receiving the maximum loan amount of up to $15,000. Kiva recently started offering borrowers the opportunity to build business credit through Kiva, and 15% of our borrowers are building credit through their Kiva loans.
In 2023, we focused on connecting entrepreneurs with different sources of capital, including loans, grants, and 1-1 business coaching services. Our primary motivation was to create more significant links with local resources and take advantage of the different alternatives offered by the market to keep small businesses in operation. 30% of Kiva loan applicants are Centro graduates.
Another essential change last year was to bring a closer connection between our Capital Hub, workshops, and 1-on-1 business advising support to address the different challenges small businesses faced. Lastly, we added new functionality to the Centro Business Planning App to help entrepreneurs easily discover and connect with local resources, including microlenders and Centro for Kiva loans.
We have continued to improve the repayment rate to 88% (from 69% in 2019), showing the commitment of borrowers to pay their loans on time, as well as the positive use of the Centro Business Planning App. All borrowers not backed by an organization are required to go to the business planning activities on our app, which helps them think through their business model which mitigates the risk of them falling behind on repayments.
The businesses that accessed our Centro Capital Hub are mainly led by women (72%), immigrants (60%), people of color, Latinx (55%), and Black (38%).
BUILD CREDIT WITH KIVA
Kiva US announced they are now introducing the ability for entrepreneurs to build their credit as they pay back their Kiva loans.
If you are an entrepreneur with crowdfunding on Kiva.org, your loan profile will indicate that you will be building business credit with the help of this Kiva loan.
Commercial reporting has no restrictions on any type of business, but it is essential that you provide Kiva with your accurate business information, as this information is used to generate the credit report.
Decisions related to finances are affected by the information present in your business credit report, including:
The extent of business credit a supplier will offer
What repayment terms you can expect from other lenders
What interest rates you’ll be charged by other lenders
The credit or funding you may receive from a bank or lender
How your customers perceive your business
CAROLINA SHARES WITH US HER EXPERIENCE WITH HER KIVA CAMPAIGN!
Meet Carolina, owner of Metanoia Zone LLC, a company dedicated to the personal growth and development of teenagers and their parents; they offer courses in 5 areas of development and 1:1 coaching sessions.
Carolina is an immigrant woman born in Caracas, Venezuela. She studied marketing and bioanalysis, which allowed her to develop skills such as team leadership, conferences and speaking engagements, and coaching. She’s the co-owner of Metanoia Zone LLC, a company dedicated to supporting mothers of teenagers in resolving family and relationship conflicts. Carolina expresses, “As a mother, coach, NLP Practitioner, and speaker, I can bring value to parents and teens through the e-learning platform created mainly to address their main challenges.”
This Kiva loan is helping Carolina scale and purchase all the necessary technology to provide a quality service. Specifically, funds will go to buying inventory and hiring an employee and an assistant accountant.
Learn more about her Kiva campaign here.
Please let us know if you or someone you know is interested in accessing a Kiva loan or have any questions. Carlo Arellano, Capital Access Manager: carlo@centrocommunity.org
Quarterly Capital Hub Update
In this quarterly Capital Hub update we’ll share some of our accomplishments, a new video about the Kiva process, how entrepreneurs can build their credit through Kiva loans, and the stories of two entrepreneurs who finished their Kiva campaigns.
QUARTERLY UPDATE
Since the start of 2022, we have helped 66 entrepreneurs access a total of $658,000 in Kiva loans through Centro’s Kiva Hubs. We also helped 13 entrepreneurs access $80,000 in grants, as well as 5 entrepreneurs access $700,000 in larger small business loans with local CDFIs (Community Development Financial Institutions).
FIND OUT HOW TO GET A 0% INTEREST LOAN
We are excited to share our new Capital Hub video that explains the process of getting a 0% interest Kiva loan and how we can support you through the process:
Over the last three months, the Centro Capital Hub helped 15 entrepreneurs access a total of $162,000 in interest-free loans through Kiva.
BUILD CREDIT WITH KIVA
Kiva US has recently announced they are now introducing building credit to their platform.
If you are an entrepreneur with crowdfunding on Kiva.org, your loan profile will indicate that you will be building business credit with the help of this Kiva loan.
Commercial reporting has no restrictions on any type of business, but it is greatly important that you provide Kiva with your accurate business information, as this information is used to generate the credit report.
The following financial decisions are impacted by the information contained in my business credit report:
How much business credit a supplier will extend to you
What repayment terms you’ll receive
What interest rates you’ll pay
How much credit or funding a bank or lender will extend to you
How your customers view your business
BERNADETTE AND DANIEL ARE SET FOR SUCCESS AFTER GETTING THEIR KIVA LOAN!
Meet Bernadette and Daniel, two amazing entrepreneurs who received $9,500 and $15,000 Kiva loans to grow their businesses in the Bay Area:
BERNADETTE,
OWNER INA BOTANICALS & TEA
Bernadette is a daughter of immigrants from the Philippines who grew up in San Francisco. She’s the owner of INA Botanicals & Tea, an herbal and specialty tea company committed to supporting women's personal growth and wellness.
“I've studied herbs and blended teas for pleasure and individual wellness in the past few years. Last year, I launched INA Botanicals & Tea and learned more about how to develop the products, brand, and position their value. The next step is to grow and share herbs' supportive and delicious properties on a larger scale.” - Bernadette
This Kiva loan is helping Bernadette scale and become more available online and in stores. It provides funding for dried herbal ingredients and enables INA to hire a sales consultant to help get the product on store shelves, starting with the West Coast.
See Bernadette Kiva Campaign here.
DANIEL,
OWNER OASIS DESIGNS
Daniel is the founder of Oasis Design, a professional creative home design studio that promotes sustainable home development for the Bay Area communities, and graduated from Centro Basic Entrepreneurship program.
“I grew up in a family of creative craftsmen, mostly cabinet and furniture makers From my grandfather to my father and uncles, I always enjoyed watching them construct and create beautiful elements and admired their tenacity to run their own businesses. It was through my father’s creative thinking and hard work that we were able to migrate to the US, and I always worked with him in his construction business. ” - Daniel
This loan helped Daniel purchase technology equipment, implement and improve his marketing strategy, as well as the hire of personnel.
See Bernadette Kiva Campaign here.
Please let us know if you or someone you know is interested in accessing a Kiva loan or have any questions. Verónica Gutiérrez, Capital Access Manager: KivaUS@centrocommunity.org.
Buy from some of our favorite Bay Area small businesses in “Shop the Bay” Guide 2022!
The Shop the Bay is back for this Holiday Season! Check out this directory now and find an array of extraordinary globally-inspired products, artisan goods and environmentally-minded brands, all created by Bay Area underserved small business owners.
This is an initiative of the San Francisco Economic Development Alliance (SFEDA), and we are part of the alliance. You can use the guide to discover and support local small businesses in the Bay Area.
In this guide, you will find unique gifts for the holiday season, like Year-end gifts for staff, thank-you gifts for board members, goods for corporate holiday baskets, holiday party favors, gratitude gifts for nonprofit funders and high-level donors, volunteer appreciation gifts, or surprise gifts for key consultants and contractors.
The Shop the Bay Guide makes it easier for you to find unique gifts as you can search by:
Price: up to $15, between $16 - $30, Between $31-$50, and from $51 and up.
Business owner profile: Women-Owned, Black-owned, AAPI-owned and Latinx-owned.
If you want to find inspiration, the Shop the Bay Guide offers a variety of products which includes:
Apparel & Accessories
Home & Personal Goods
Art & Entertainment
Savory foods
Coffee & Tea
Sweets & Treats
When you shop at a small business, you are supporting a dream, bringing forth unique products, creating meaningful new jobs and making a difference with your dollars.
Only together can we truly support our Bay Area community of small business entrepreneurs.
2022 Q3 Update
We have some important updates regarding entrepreneurs served, the Centro Business Planning App, access to capital, one-on-one assistance, and Centro Business Planning App. You can now see our latest impact statistics on our Overview page.
ENTREPRENEURS SERVED
Throughout this year, we have served 897 entrepreneurs, 263 of whom attended our training programs. Through our programs, the Capital Hub and our app, we are on track to help more than 1,270 entrepreneurs by the end of this year.
We would like to introduce you to Ingrid, who is the owner of Niños Sanos, Seguros y Felices in San Jose, California. She is an amazing Latina entrepreneur who went through our Basic and Advanced programs, and recently got her second Kiva loan.
ACCESS TO CAPITAL
Over the last three months, the Centro Capital Hub helped 18 entrepreneurs access a total of $198,500 in interest-free loans through Kiva, and a total of 60 entrepreneurs accessed $591,500 this year. We are on track to serve 75 entrepreneurs by the end of the year.
We are excited to share that since we started helping entrepreneurs access Kiva Loans through our Centro Business Planning App trustee account in 2014, we have endorsed 144 entrepreneurs who have received over $1 Million in interest-free loans.
So far this year, we have helped eleven entrepreneurs access $75,000 in grants and five entrepreneurs access $700,000 in larger small business loans with local CDFIs (Community Development Financial Institutions).
ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE
Since January 2021, we have provided 1,346 hours of 1-on-1 assistance to 424 entrepreneurs, with most of them located in Oakland, San Jose, Santa Clara, Stockton and other Bay Area counties.
In 2022 we have served 198 entrepreneurs and we are on track to support 250 entrepreneurs by the end of this year.
CENTRO BUSINESS PLANNING APP UPDATES
We continue our work on improving the Centro Business Planning App, and we have recently released another app update. With the latest version of the app, entrepreneurs can now see local lenders and resources on the app in multiple languages. They will see resources that offer support in their language at the top of the list and other options that might not offer in their languages below.
Also, entrepreneurs can now update their email addresses if something changes or if they had a typo when they originally created their accounts. As entrepreneurs sign up for and use the app, they are asked to validate their email to ensure that their Business Plans and the emails connecting them to resources are sent to the right place.
Centro awarded with Justworks.org grant
We're excited to share that we have been awarded a grant from Justworks.org. We are honored to be selected as one of five non-profit organization recipients out of 183 proposals submitted.
Justworks.org is committed to creating more equitable access to entrepreneurship. They are focused on high-impact grant-making for incubators and other organizations that help early-stage minority and women-owned businesses access the fundamentals of entrepreneurship like raising financing, building products, finding customers, and ultimately delivering revenues and profits.
In many cases, underrepresented entrepreneurs face additional barriers to success, like disparities in opportunity along race, gender, sexual orientation, and other socioeconomic lines. That makes access to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship a major obstacle in realizing their potential.
Thanks to this grant, we will be able to continue offering technical assistance programs and services to aspiring entrepreneurs and established small businesses led by women and minorities in Stockton, CA.
We are looking forward to being part of Justworks inaugural cohort of grantees!
You can learn more about the Justworks grant here.
Featured E-Suite Partner: Bethel LA CDC
We are pleased to feature one of our first partner organizations: Bethel Los Angeles Community Development Corporation (Bethel). Frank Stokes is the founder of the Business Entrepreneurial Stewardship Training Mobile Accelerator (BEST Mobile Accelerator); in partnership with Bethel LA CDC, a non-profit corporation, whose mission is to revitalize South Los Angeles through social, economic, physical, mental, educational, and vocational support services and programs.
They do this by developing and nurturing youth, providing assistance to senior citizens, supporting the family structure, fostering the creation of businesses, promoting computer literacy, bridging the education gap between generations and connecting life purposes with career choices in the community of South Los Angeles.
PIONEERS TESTING THE CENTRO BUSINESS PLANNING APP
Centro launched the Business Planning App in 2015 and made it available to other non-profit organizations in California that served entrepreneurs. Thanks to CAMEO, Bethel LA CDC was introduced to Centro as part of a cohort of organizations in Southern California that were the first to receive the Train-the-Trainer program and use the app to help entrepreneurs as new E-Suite Partners.
“We were really excited about the Centro Business Planning App. We have used other tools before, but what we really like about this one is that it was portable on mobile devices and it was introspective, meaning that if you're answering responsively to the questions you're building your content. It took a lot of mystery out of the wordsmithery, and you know how to get started.” - Frank Stokes
PROVIDING AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEM IN SOUTH LA
Bethel LA CDC goal is to revitalize South Los Angeles by improving facilities and promoting opportunities through career and entrepreneurship training in the community.
With this goal in mind, Bethel LA CDC BEST Mobile Accelerator provides an entrepreneurship program to their community where they use the Centro Business Planning App. This program facilitates access to business development resources that enhance growth and self-sufficiency. It also provides information and seminars to retain, attract, and expand new and existing businesses. Assistance is provided to minority, women and disadvantaged business enterprises.
“We serve as a network for small businesses and an ecosystem for entrepreneurs that are seeking to realize their vision. We do that with a variety of resources. We start with the training and technical assistance and then we offer assistance with the implementation of the business plan and access to capital. In many cases, we can make those handshakes for mentorship or some particular resources unique to the entrepreneurs’ business.” - Frank Stokes
EMBRACING ENTREPRENEURSHIP LIKE NEVER BEFORE
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Bethel LA CDC BEST Mobile Accelerator’s outreach has expanded. They started facilitating their programs virtually and discovered that removed the transportation barriers. People who couldn’t attend in-person programs were able to attend now.
The Bethel LA CDC BEST Mobile Accelerator serves a wide spectrum of people, from the underserved entrepreneurs to the disenfranchised, including people who were employed and decided to leave their employment.
“Today people are embracing the idea of running your own business like never before. This was a real challenge for people. They were more focused on finding employment that takes care of bills, and so there's a lot of uncertainty in the marketplace right now.” - Frank Stokes
SEVEN YEARS OF A VERY RICH PARTNERSHIP
Since then, the Bethel LA CDC BEST Mobile Accelerator has implemented Centro’s curriculum in their entrepreneurship programs. In their first year as E-Suite Partners their goal was to impact 25 businesses. Now, 7 years after becoming partners, they have served over 500 entrepreneurs using the Centro Entrepreneurship Suite (E-Suite).
In the last two-and-a-half years, they’ve served 250 businesses. Of those served, 40 are in cohorts, and the rest of them are businesses in the community or they are previous graduates of their program that are in the network, and they receive continuous support and new information.
“The partnership with Centro has been rich and has provided us with a tool that is user-friendly to the community we serve. This tool, the Centro Business Planning App, is the most user-friendly we've had. It has eliminated some of the mystery to get a basic business plan once they've gotten to that stage. The technical support we have received from Centro has been great. Growing together and serving our community over the years has been a very valuable collaboration and partnership.” Frank Stokes
If you want to learn more about how we can also help your organization, please contact us at esuite@centrocommunity.org. We are also happy to answer any questions about our current curriculum, learning and teaching tools, and the support we provide to organizations!
Centro awarded an eBay Foundation Global Give grant
We're excited to share that we received an eBay Foundation Global Give grant to support women and minority entrepreneurs.
We are grateful to eBay Foundation for their generous support for the second time, as we were also grantees of the 2021 Global Give grant program. Thanks to their continuous support, we were able to utilize their grant funds to advance access to capital, offer 1-on-1 business advisory services and provide capacity-building services to other nonprofits. These partner organizations collectively served 150+ underrepresented entrepreneurs in the Bay Area and New York City. With renewed support from the eBay Foundation, we are looking to continue our work and support in these areas.
Since 1998, eBay Foundation has partnered with nonprofit organizations that are addressing and removing barriers to entrepreneurship for people who identify with historically excluded groups. The foundation believes when entrepreneurs succeed, they build more resilient and vibrant communities. The foundation’s grantmaking supports nonprofits like Centro and coalitions that enrich entrepreneurial opportunities for people and communities disproportionately affected by structural inequality, advancing economic opportunity for all.
We are so grateful to eBay Foundation for its commitment to entrepreneurship with underserved communities.
You can learn more about the eBay Global Give grant here.
Quarterly Capital Hub Update
In this quarterly Capital Hub update we’ll share some of our accomplishments, and share the stories of two entrepreneurs who finished their Kiva campaigns.
$1 M IN IN KIVA LOANS FOR ENTREPRENEURS ENDORSED BY CENTRO!
We are excited to share that since we started helping entrepreneurs access Kiva Loans through our Centro Business Planning App trustee account in 2014, we have endorsed 133 entrepreneurs receiving over $1M in interest-free loans.
In order to qualify for our endorsement in Kiva, entrepreneurs must create their business plans using the Centro Business Planning Tool. By completing all of the activities in this app, potential borrowers will have thought through the different pieces of their business models and are able to effectively explain their business to Kiva lenders.
QUARTERLY UPDATE
Since the start of 2022, we have helped 57 entrepreneurs access $1,160,500. From this amount, $440,500 were provided in Kiva loans with the Oakland and San Francisco Kiva Hubs, $45,000 in grants, and $675,000 in larger small business loans.
EDISNEY AND PAOLA, ARE SET FOR SUCCESS AFTER GETTING THEIR KIVA LOAN!
Meet Edisney and Paola, two amazing entrepreneurs who each received a $15,000 Kiva loan to grow their businesses in the Bay Area:
EDISNEY ROA TRUJILLO, OWNER OF OLALA POPSICLES
Edisney is originally from Colombia, and produces and sells artisan popsicles called Olala Popsicles.
“One of my passions is making traditional Colombian desserts for my family, especially passion fruit desserts. Living here in the United States and missing the food of my country, I was inspired by Colombian paletas to create Olala Popsicles and share them with my friends. My business started in 2020 during the pandemic because of the need to earn income and my passion for taking desserts to another level.” - Edisney
This Kiva loan is helping Edisney take her popsicle business to the next level by purchasing machinery to optimize the production and distribution of the product.
PAOLA ALVARADO, OWNER OF PAO CRAFT COCKTAILS
Paola is a Latina woman originally from Mexico, and is the founder of Pao Craft Cocktails.
“I have a craft cocktail business, I focus on creating fun and different environments with a delicious drink made for each of my clients' needs. My business is a mobile bar and we serve our customers in the location of their choice. I decided to start my business, because I was unemployed due to the pandemic in 2020. This motivated me to undertake and empower myself to open my business on February 17, 2021.” - Paola
This loan helped Paola purchase a van to transport more equipment and hold larger events, as well as help with professional advertising and hiring a staff person.
Please let us know if you or someone you know is interested in accessing a Kiva loan or have any questions. Verónica Gutiérrez, Capital Access Manager: KivaUS@centrocommunity.org.