Our First Long Beach Kiva Borrower!

LISC and Kiva’s partnership has been funding small businesses for the past 3 years, funding almost 100 small businesses in a variety of industries, such as food, retail, arts, entertainment, and more. At LISC, we feel small business success means stronger local economies, better jobs, and a better standard of living.

Through Kiva, we’ve been able to expand financial opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses. Kiva enables entrepreneurs to access 0% interest small business loans up to $10,000. Their model is unique because it uses social underwriting—a borrower’s character, relationships, and reputation—instead of their credit scores or assets to access business capital.

We’ve been very active in the City of Long Beach with many of our initiatives, including supporting the renovation of the 25 year-old Eastman/Farfield Club owned and operated by the Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach and the recent Everyone In Economic Equity Summit we hosted in collaboration with Vice Mayor Rex Richardson’s office at the Long Beach Convention Center.

At the Everyone In Economic Equity Summit, our first Long Beach Kiva borrower gained huge momentum on his campaign and was fully funded in less than a week. His name is Tromaine Ellis and this is his story.

Ellis grew up in Long Beach. He first fell in love with photography at the age of 15 but decided to make it a career much later in life. He’s struggled in his life having been previously incarcerated and homeless, but is committed to being a bright example for his 3 daughters and his son.  He is now known as the Long Beach City Photographer, having captured many Long Beach politicians and community events. With the money he’s raised on the Kiva platform, he plans to expand his business and upgrade his photography and video equipment. His Kiva trustee, World Famous VIP Business Incubator & Multi Media Center, will provide a home base to build his business and provide full support as he expands.

You too can help a small business expand by donating to a small business on our platform here!

If you’re interested in a loan for your small business or want to become a trustee and help small businesses in your area get a loan, contact Miranda Rodriguez at MRodriguez@lisc.org.