WomenVenture Stories and Data

WomenVenture Stories

Minnesota Entrepreneur Grows Childcare Business with Help of Local CDFIs

Brooklyn Park,
Minnesota

WomenVenture

Angel Rogers is known by her family and friends as responsible, caring, and a good listener. However, Angel’s journey to entrepreneurship has not been easy. Growing up, Angel spent time in foster care, she had her first daughter and got her own apartment at 16, and at 18 she gained full custody of her younger brother and sister.

Braiding Business and Belief

St. Cloud,
Minnesota

The Initiative Foundation

Timely loan weaves a solution to keep St. Cloud salon owner’s business buzzing

Eagles Healing Nest

Sauk Centre,
Minnesota

The Initiative Foundation

Aaron Starrett was 18 years old in 2009 when he left his hometown of Austin, Texas, for four years in the Air Force. He served as a munitions specialist in Korea and Germany, helping prepare aircraft with heavy explosives before leaving the military in 2014.

Viva Long Prairie

Long Prarie,
Minnesota

The Initiative Foundation

Opening Viva meant overcoming big hurdles—including financing a major renovation of a century-old building. But Perez stayed true to his approach, chasing solutions until he secured a state revitalization grant and loan support from the Initiative Foundation.

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WomenVenture Fact Sheet

We want ALL entrepreneurs to have access to capitol to support their businesses. Especially those that may be deemed unbankable.

-Renay Dossman, NDC, Saint Paul, MN

CDFIs drive economic mobility in a way that positively transforms communities in many ways. It’s relevant for folks with a business/economy-first mentality to know: CDFIs create small businesses, develop financially stable households, and increase low-come families’ spending power. These are metrics that are meaningful to people of all political views. Investing in the CDFI Fund pays dividends to the broader economy. This is not a politically divisive line item in the budget. Fund the CDFI Fund!

-Kit Fordham, Mni Sota Fund, Minneapolis, MN

CDFIs make otherwise impossible projects possible.

-George Sutton, Bedrock Holdings LLC, Minneapolis, MN

WomenVenture Stories and Data

WomenVenture Stories

WomenVenture Fact Sheet

Map of WomenVenture CDFI Branches and Stories