Minnesota Stories and Data

Minnesota 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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Minnesota Fact Sheet

Testimonials

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

The work of CDFIs and the CDFI Fund is critical for so many small businesses, real estate developers, nonprofits, and communities across the United States.

-Mary Stoick, Sunrise Banks, St Paul, MN

CDFIs help make our world a better place.

-Jeffry R. Brown, , Edina, MN

Minnesota Stories and Data