Stories

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3.19.2024 -

“You Will Not Be Alone”: LISC + Verizon Provide Lifeline for Entrepreneurs New to U.S.

Drawing on their Argentinian heritage and family legacy as purveyors of fine sausages, Federico Etchechoury and his brother Martín brought their craft to the U.S. where they opened WeARGourment in suburban Atlanta. They soon found that starting a business in a new country is full of challenges. Thankfully, the Etchechoury brothers discovered Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, a free learning platform offering courses and one-on-one consulting in English and Spanish. Watch their story!

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3.07.2024 -

A Pioneering Woman Plumber Is Growing Her Business with a Boost from LISC

Fewer than 2% of plumbers are women, but Anna Hall, the president of P&H Divine Plumbing in Chicago, is a barrier-breaking entrepreneur in the field. The first female plumber to work for the city’s Department of Water Management, Hall started her company to employ more people who looked like her and serve communities other contractors often avoided. Now, with an investment from LISC Fund Management’s Diverse Supplier Grant Initiative, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, Hall is realizing her vision for growing Divine Plumbing. Meet her and learn more in the video below!

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1.30.2024 -

Kaiser Permanente + LISC: Addressing Economic Factors That Impact Community Health

A healthy community isn’t just about access to high-quality, reliable health care. Individuals and families also need access to good jobs, opportunities to build wealth, and thriving, locally-owned businesses. Kaiser Permanente understands how economic factors can shape well-being, especially in communities of color that often don’t benefit from regional or national prosperity. Learn how LISC is collaborating with Kaiser Permanente to support locally-driven strategies that spark economic growth in under-invested places.

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1.03.2024 -

Empty Towers and Community Pillars: Addressing the Root Causes of Small Business Displacement

On Wall Street and downtowns around the country, declining in-person work is driving near-record office vacancies, with implications for nearby businesses, the urban tax base, and public services. But on main streets across the country, LISC is addressing some of the same technological and economic changes behind downtown vacancies, to support entrepreneurs of color facing displacement.

12.20.2023 -

With LISC Loan, Electrical Contractor Expands Capacity and Green Offerings

Memphis Electric, with help from a $1 million LISC small business loan is seeking larger contracts, reducing reliance on factoring, and upskilling staff. The company is helping build a stronger network of diverse suppliers nationally to support a greener economy.

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11.21.2023 -

We Love Small Businesses + We Love Our Funders! Spotlight on Verizon Small Business Digital Ready

Thousands of enterprises have used Verizon Small Business Digital Ready – a free resource Verizon developed in partnership with LISC – to gain the skills they need to grow and thrive in today’s digital economy. We’d like to introduce to you three of them.