Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 99 results  for your search.  View and Refine Your Search Terms

  • Coronavirus crisis in France: The battle to save the livelihoods of the self-employed

    May 22, 2020 |

    The Local |

    Text |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: France

    The French government has spent billions to keep small businesses afloat during the coronavirus lockdown in hopes that the stopgap funding will ensure a quick economic recovery once the health crisis abates. The funding has been on a national and regional level, with extra funding for those who have been rejected for bank loans and are suffering the most. Small businesses are also exempt from rent, gas, or electricity payments until the country reopens. The distribution of funding has come with its challenges as some business fall through the bureaucratic cracks.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • How Louisiana cities are using the CARES Act to save small businesses, keep people in homes

    May 19, 2020 |

    The Current (Louisiana) |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Louisiana

    The Cares Act is a federal program providing $46.6 million dollars of emergency aid which cities in Louisiana are spending on a combination of a mortgage and rent relief or on the needs of small businesses. For most cities throughout the state, the first priority is keeping residents in their homes as the stay on evictions approaches, at which point landlords will expect rent as well as backpay. Louisiana faces the triple threat of a pandemic, the economic fallout from it, and a series of tornados. Keeping people in their homes has been the foremost priority to stop the spread of the virus.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Banking on community, local lenders secure PPP loans for businesses

    April 29, 2020 |

    Buffalo Bulletin |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Johnson County, Wyoming

    Community banks in Wyoming were able to better serve local businesses in securing federal funds from the Paycheck Protection Program. The smaller banks were able to quickly pivot their staffing and operations need to process the overwhelming number of applicants, resulting in an approval rate of 100 percent in some counties. Personal connections in the smaller communities also led banks to work overtime and do everything in their power to help local businesses, in contrast to big banks which appeared to prioritize clients with higher net worth, according to reports.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Bodegas and Corner Stores Are Part of Crisis Response — They're Also Uniquely Vulnerable

    March 19, 2020 |

    Next City |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, New York, New York

    Amidst the COVID-19 crisis, bodegas offer local supplies in many food deserts across the country. While the bodegas struggle to find funding and stay in business for their neighborhoods, they also fight their way into policy discussions and micro-loan programs to stay afloat for low-income neighbors needing healthy food options.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • This Bank Hired a Community Organizer and Here's What Happened Next

    January 28, 2020 |

    Next City |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

    Reducing inequality in the financial sector requires creating connections to underserved communities of color. In Boston, Berkshire Bank has begun an initiative to reach those who are “underbanked.” The bank’s new Reevex Labs facilities use coworking and event spaces to facilitate connections between communities and financial institutions. At Reevex locations, community members can connect to organizations like The Runway Project, which facilitates low-interest loans to entrepreneurs of color.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Honeycomb Credit expands to Philly to help small business owners get crowdsourced loans

    January 14, 2020 |

    The Philadelphia Citizen |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Founded in Pittsburgh, Honeycomb Credit expands to Philadelphia as a way to offer small businesses help with microfinance challenges. The company hosts a platform that allows businesses to create fundraising profiles; community members can watch a video about the business and decide to invest and receive monthly payouts from their contribution.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Microlending Sparks Hope and Renewal in Rochester, N.Y.

    January 07, 2020 |

    Governing |

    Multi-Media |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Rochester, New York

    In 2016, the city of Rochester, NY partnered with Kiva—a crowd-funded microlender—to serve aspiring or established small-business owners. Their partnership offers interest-free loans, and already 20 of the loans have been fully repaid. This article looks at six different case studies of residents who have benefitted from the program.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Making a More Democratic Economy, One Revolving Loan Fund at a Time

    November 14, 2019 |

    Next City |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Berkeley, California

    Advancing the model of worker ownership requires expanding access to loans for cooperative businesses. In California, Berkeley City Council recently adopted changes to its Loan Fund for small businesses, allowing businesses without a CEO to apply for a loan. The City Council and Loan Administration board approved an idea put forth by the Sustainable Economics Law Center (SELC), which will permit coops to appoint a panel of owners to serve as guarantors of a loan, in lieu of a single CEO.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Changing Lives by Building Credit History — One Microloan at a Time Audio icon

    November 08, 2019 |

    KQED |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

    A program through the Mission Asset Fund, based in San Francisco, helps low-income communities get loans and good credit from an unlikely source: each other. The initiative pools together funds from family members and neighbors and distributes the loan to one of the contributors each month; the loans are interest free and allow community members to build credit without the difficulties of breaking into the typical microfinance realm.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Companies helping employees tackle student loan debt

    March 25, 2019 |

    KGTV-TV |

    Broadcast TV News |

    Under 3 Minutes

    Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

    Companies get creative to help their employees tackle student debt by offering loan assistance as well as carrying over unused paid time off into a fund to chip away at debt. In San Diego, Fidelity Investments has found higher employee retention and workplace happiness with the addition of loan assistance as a benefit for employees with student debt.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

Go to All Solutions in Focus