The application deadline is Friday, July 28th at 5 PM EST The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development and the Washington Area Community Investment Fund have partnered to offer approximately $2 million in grants to retain, grow, and propel innovation for district-based small businesses! Eligible businesses can receive up to $100K in…
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Beauty and community can be magical things when perfectly balanced. Just ask Aesha Ray, an accountant turned retail entrepreneur redefining what franchise beauty supply will look like in the future. Aesha Ray owns Envy Us Beauty Supply, a chain of two black-owned beauty supply stores in Alexandria, Virginia, and Fort Washington, Maryland. As far back…
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We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made our very first Cultivate Women’s Summit, “Breaking Barriers to Cultivate Growth,” a success! During the planning process for the Enterprising Women of Color DMV Business Center Cultivate Summit, we knew we wanted to create a day-long summit curated for minority women entrepreneurs in the DMV Region…
Read MoreWashington, D.C. (June 23, 2023) – Wacif today announced that May 2023 was the largest single month of new small business loan production in the organization’s 36-year history, representing both the organization’s commitment to scale its investments in underserved entrepreneurs and its ongoing investment in transforming its lending. “Wacif is committed to investing $100M in…
Read MoreWashington, D.C. (June 8, 2023) – Wacif today announced $3 million in funding to redevelop the Anacostia Arts Center (AAC) as the region’s largest hub for inclusive entrepreneurship, advancing the $37 million project into the final mile of philanthropic fundraising. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D – D.C.) – a longtime champion for equity and opportunity in…
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Today is my last day at Wacif, and I recognize ever more that part of the journey is the end. I’m truly filled with a deep spirit of gratitude. Seven years ago, I began this journey, and I could not be more proud of what we’ve accomplished together. Perhaps its apropos that it’s Small Business…
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The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) today announced that Wacif Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Harold B. Pettigrew, Jr. is transitioning from Wacif to become CEO of the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), bringing his lifelong commitment to community and economic development to a national platform.
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Olayinka Odeniran, the founder and chairwoman
of the Black Women Blockchain Council (BWBC), aims to onboard half a million black women onto blockchain technology through her membership community by 2030. Olayinka desires to create a place where black women can learn, explore and dive deeper into what
makes blockchain unique.
Entrepreneurs thrive in a community. Customers, suppliers, advocates, accountants, lawyers, teachers, and mentors form an ecosystem of creativity, diversity, and support that helps entrepreneurs like creative entrepreneur Katrina Norman. Katrina Norman, a wife, mother of two, a previous federal employee of 20 years, and native Washingtonian, is the owner and operator of the Beautiful Brown…
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Pablo Ortiz and Rahel Kassa started their enterprise to solve a problem. They wanted to build a solution centered around their skills, knowledge, and gifts. Ortiz and Kassa created the Aurora Market, a “Modern Mom and Pop” grocery store. Their mission is to provide access to nutritious and organic food sources in underserved communities designated…
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