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Wacif and Morning Consult Receive Washington Business Journal 2020 Citizenship Award

By sowm | December 11, 2020 |

Washington, D.C. (December 11, 2020) – The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) today announced that with partner Morning Consult, the global data intelligence firm, it has been awarded the 2020 Citizenship Award by the Washington Business Journal. The honor recognizes the partnership between Wacif and Morning Consult, as one of three partnership honorees, on the launch of the Small Business Resilience Fund in June 2020, and its efforts to provide much needed capital to assist…

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Wacif Receives $500,000 Award From Citi Foundation to Support Small Business Recovery

By sowm | December 10, 2020 |

Washington, D.C. (December 10, 2020) – The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) today announced it was selected by the Citi Foundation as one of 30 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in the country to receive a $500,000 grant to support Wacif’s efforts to provide capital and advisory services to entrepreneurs of color for economic recovery and resilience. The grant is a part of Citi Foundation’s $15 Million Initiative to provide unrestricted funding to support the…

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In 2020, Compass Coffee Is Brewing More Than Coffee

By sowm | November 5, 2020 |

Businesses across D.C. are taking part in initiatives that make it easier for employees and customers to exercise their civic rights. Local coffee roaster Compass Coffee is one small business proving that civic engagement is just as important as your morning coffee. Compass Coffee is a 2020 DC Small Business Recovery Microgrant recipient, administered by Wacif on behalf of…

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Wacif to Launch New Business Center to Support Enterprising Women of Color in the National Capital Region

By sowm | November 5, 2020 |

Washington, D.C. (October 30, 2020) – In celebration of National Women’s Small Business Month, the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) today announced its plans to launch a new business center focused on women entrepreneurs of color. In partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), Wacif will launch the National Capital Region MBDA Business Center for Enterprising Women of Color (MBDA…

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Women Entrepreneurship is on the Rise: Five Small Businesses Making Waves

By sowm | October 22, 2020 |

October marks the 32nd anniversary of H.R. 5050: the Women’s Business Ownership Act, signed into legislation by President Reagan in 1988. The legislation empowers women to independently sign their business loan applications and makes it easier for women entrepreneurs to receive working capital, training, and assistance. Today, women-owned businesses are growing at 2.5% the national average, and women entrepreneurs of color are the fastest-growing population of entrepreneurs in the United States.   According to…

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Wacif CEO Harold Pettigrew Joins Washington Business Journal Leadership Trust

By sowm | October 5, 2020 |

Washington, D.C. (October 05, 2020) — The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) today announced that CEO Harold Pettigrew, Jr. will join the Washington Business Journal Leadership Trust (Trust), an exclusive community for influential business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs in Greater Washington. “I am proud to join and lend my voice to a community of…

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Wacif Leadership Selected for Leadership Greater Washington and Leadership Montgomery Cohorts for 2021

By sowm | October 1, 2020 |

Washington, DC (October 01, 2020) — The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) is proud to announce that members of its executive leadership, Harold Pettigrew, CEO; Matt Glatting, Board Member, and Brendon Miller, Director of Communications & Development, have been selected to join Leadership Greater Washington (LGW) and Leadership Montgomery (LM), respectively. “Wacif is honored…

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Wacif Joins Truist, the NC Rural Center, and CDFI Partners to Launch CornerSquare Community Capital

By sowm | September 30, 2020 |

Washington, DC (September 30, 2020) – The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) partnered with Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC), NC Rural Center, and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) across the country to launch CornerSquare Community Capital, a new national nonprofit fund structured to increase capital through the CDFI’s to entrepreneurs of color and women…

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2020 National Black Business Month

By sowm | August 30, 2020 |

As National Black Business Month comes to a close, we want to take a moment to thank the many Black-owned small business owners and entrepreneurs navigating day-to-day systemic challenges in addition to the hardships brought on by COVID-19. Despite all odds, local entrepreneurs remain resilient while also going the extra mile to support their communities…

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