Washington, D.C. (July 6, 2021) – The Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (Wacif) announced today that it was awarded $1,500,000 from Wells Fargo to launch the Greater Washington Small Business Resilience Center. The grant is made possible through Wells Fargo’s Open for Business Fund, a roughly $420 million small business recovery effort across the…
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Washington, D.C. (June 17, 2021) – The Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (Wacif) announced today that it was awarded, for the fourth consecutive year, funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. This year, Wacif was awarded $1,826,265 through the CDFI Fund’s Rapid Response Program (RRP), the largest…
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Washington, D.C./Arlington, VA (June 8, 2021) – The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) and Capital Impact Partners today announced $40,000 in grant awards to four existing and emerging cooperatively owned businesses operated by people of color and/or workers living with low wages through the D.C. Co-op Impact Grant. In its second year, the grant…
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Washington, D.C. (May 25, 2021) – The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) has joined D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), the state education agency for Washington, D.C., to launch the second round of the D.C. Child Care Provider Relief Fund (the Fund). The $10.7 million fund provides direct, emergency grant relief funding…
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The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) was signed into law by President Joe Biden and set aside $28.6 billion for the food service industry. The SBA is now accepting applications, and we anticipate the funding will go fast. What you need to know: Between Monday, May 4th and Monday, May 24th, the SBA will accept applications from…
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Washington, D.C. (March 11, 2021) – The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) today announced the official launch of the Enterprising Women of Color District, Maryland, Virginia (DMV) Business Center (Center), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). The Center builds on Wacif’s three decades of experience investing in women of color business owners, with access to capital, technical assistance, and partnership opportunities. Led…
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“Women-owned businesses, specifically businesses owned by women of color, need a just and supportive system on their side as they rebuild not only their companies, but their lives. The Wacif team, and the Enterprising Women of Color District, Maryland, Virginia (DMV) Business Center, will stand beside them in that effort.” – Kimberly Gayle, Wacif Chief Program Officer …
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Washington, D.C. (March 8, 2021) – The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) announced today that Kimberly Gayle joined the organization as its new Chief Program Officer. In this role, Kimberly will provide executive leadership and management oversight of Wacif’s small business advisory services and programming. “I am thrilled to welcome Kimberly to the Wacif team as our first Chief Program Officer, and to expand our leadership to take on the challenges ahead that impact entrepreneurs across the region,” said Wacif CEO Harold Pettigrew, Jr.…
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Washington, D.C. (February 17, 2021) – The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) today announced that Mayor Bowser had honored Wacif as a 2020 DC Spirit of Service Award honoree in the Public-Private Partnership: Achievement in Collaboration category. This award acknowledges Wacif’s innovative approach to advance equity and opportunity through public-private partnerships. The DC Spirit…
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Washington, D.C. (January 22, 2021) – The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) today announced its participation in the second round of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) through a partnership with community bank Customers Bank and fintech SmartBiz. Prospective applicants can click here to begin the application process. “Wacif is committed…
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