Atlanta, Georgia

In Atlanta, EOCF is helping a wide variety of businesses get the lifeblood capital they need.

Atlanta, Georgia

The start of EOCF’s work in Atlanta in fall 2021 represents an important part of LISC’s major expansion of the program to key markets across the country. Atlanta offers a unique challenge. The local economy is vibrant, adding over 625,000 jobs in the last decade prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, the city struggles with wealth and income disparities that extend into its small business sector. African Americans make up over 50% of Atlanta’s population, yet Black entrepreneurs head up only 8% of the city’s small businesses. EOCF’s efforts strive to support both Atlanta’s rebound from the pandemic and its progress toward a more equal economic environment.

Building momentum.

We are starting strong, thanks in part to a commitment of $3.2 million in funds from JPMorgan Chase. EOCF Atlanta entrepreneurs are using loan funds to buy equipment, hire additional staff, refinance,hire new employees, pay down existing debt, purchase inventory and more.

Over 2/3rds of our borrowers are women entrepreneurs

Over 90% are African American small business owners

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Are you an Atlanta business seeking support? Check out our partners below to see who may be right for your needs. 

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Our Partners 

With three lending partners and two providing technical assistance, EOCF Atlanta CDFIs are working together to provide small business owners right-sized support tailored to your needs. 

Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE)

Since its launch in 1997 ACE has worked to provide small businesses capital, coaching and connections to succeed.

Village Micro Fund

Village Micro Fund provides community supported microloans and mentorship to Atlanta businesses.

Atlanta Emerging Markets, Inc.

Created in 2006 by Invest Atlanta they specialize in gap financing for startups, small & medium sized businesses.

Our entrepreneurs.

The EOCF is having impact in Atlanta. In just a few months of 2021, EOCF CDFI partners have made over 40 loans totaling over $5 million. We’re helping a wide span of businesses, too, from startups to established businesses that are moving quickly to scale up and expand their markets.

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Grant Park Coffeehouse

Rahel Tafarl opened Grant Park Coffeehouse in 2010 and it didn’t take long to become a neighborhood staple. A café and catering business, the coffeehouse is known for its fresh, homemade pastries, sandwiches, and fair-trade coffee. Last year, Rahel was ready to expand and decided to buy a new building in Downtown Atlanta, only to have her mortgage application turned down by the bank where she had done business for 25 years.

That’s when she found EOCF Atlanta partner ACE. ACE put Rahel in touch with a financial advisor who helped her map out her financing needs and find additional opportunities. With help from an EOCF loan from ACE, Rahel is planning to open her second location later this year.

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Our borrowers are putting the money to work in a multitude of ways:

  • Hiring new
    employees
  • Inventory
  • Paying down
    debt
  • Payroll
  • Fufilling
    orders
  • Equipment
    purchases

“Success means that all Atlantans have the resources to build intergenerational wealth, achieve economic mobility and be more resilient to economic downturns... By supporting more Black-owned businesses, we can create more opportunities for meaningful savings, property ownership, credit building and generational wealth.”

- Dr. Eloisa Klementich, President & CEO, Invest Atlanta