Washington, D.C. (December 3, 2021) – The Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) announced today that CEO Harold B. Pettigrew, Jr.’s selection to the Washington Business Journal’s Power 100 Class of 2021. Harold joins a diverse group of 100 leaders driving an equitable, sustained recovery and community resilience across the Greater Washington region.
“It is an honor to be recognized among the Washington Business Journal’s Power 100 alongside so many dynamic leaders across the region,” said Wacif CEO Harold B. Pettigrew, Jr. “The last year has brought the importance of Wacif’s mission to drive equity and economic opportunity into stark focus, and I look forward to working with our partners to deepen impact in the communities we serve.”
A Native Washingtonian, graduate of the D.C. Public School system, and Ward 7 resident, equitable economic development and inclusive entrepreneurship is Harold’s life’s work. Harold has served as an executive public servant, including as the Director of D.C.’s small business department and as the District’s senior licensing administrator, in addition to national expertise as the Director of Entrepreneurship at Prosperity Now and advisor to National League of Cities on equitable economic development strategies in cities across the country, including Minneapolis, Birmingham, and Louisville. To help drive equity and economic opportunity nationally, he currently serves on a number of Boards and Councils, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Community Investment Council, the Board of Directors for Enterprise Community Loan Fund and Common Future, and advisory councils for major financial institutions. Earlier this year, President Biden appointed Harold to join the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institution Community Advisory Board.
This year’s Power 100 class highlights leaders across the public and private sectors who are shaping an equitable and healthy recovery. Each member of this year’s class demonstrated perseverance in the face of adversity by sustaining their organizations and, by continuing to carry out their mission in the Washington, D.C. region throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. These leaders range from notable executives to local pioneers whose organizations have impacted their communities for the better.
As the region recovers from COVID-19, Wacif’s leaders continue to shape and support an equitable recovery by empowering underserved communities through economic inclusion, entrepreneurship, and community wealth building. In 2020 alone, Wacif deployed more than $11 million to over 1,800 small businesses, and helped create or retain more than 18,000 local jobs. Wacif’s broader leadership team also participates in leadership roles throughout the ecosystem. Earlier this year, Wacif’s Chief Financial and Operations Officer Kevin Fryatt joined Credit Builders Alliance (CBA) Board of Directors as Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair for CBA and the CBA Fund. Harold B. Pettigrew, Jr. and Chief Development and Communications Officer Brendon Miller also graduated from the 2021 cohorts of Leadership Greater Washington and Leadership Montgomery respectively.
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About the Washington Area Community Investment Fund
The Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (Wacif) is one of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area’s leading Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) focused on small business development. Wacif’s mission is to increase equity and economic opportunity in underserved communities in the Washington, D.C. area by investing knowledge, social, and financial capital in low-and-moderate-income entrepreneurs. To learn more about Wacif’s mission, visit www.wacif.org.