Stories

None
3.19.2024 -

“You Will Not Be Alone”: LISC + Verizon Provide Lifeline for Entrepreneurs New to U.S.

Drawing on their Argentinian heritage and family legacy as purveyors of fine sausages, Federico Etchechoury and his brother Martín brought their craft to the U.S. where they opened WeARGourment in suburban Atlanta. They soon found that starting a business in a new country is full of challenges. Thankfully, the Etchechoury brothers discovered Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, a free learning platform offering courses and one-on-one consulting in English and Spanish. Watch their story!

None
3.14.2024 -

LISC + TD Bank: Creating Affordable Housing Opportunities in Upstate South Carolina

A dozen LISC offices work with TD Bank to create affordable housing in communities that need it most. In Upstate South Carolina, where our office opened in 2019, LISC benefits from the leadership of TD Bank’s John F. Verreault III, who chairs the Local Advisory Committee. In a new Q+A, learn why supporting affordable housing is so important to TD Bank, and to Verreault.

None
3.13.2024 -

In Recognition of HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge

As HUD Secretary Fudge prepares to retire from public service, LISC CEO Michael T. Pugh reflects on her impact and the career-long dedication to creating affordable housing for all.

None
3.13.2024 -

Rudy Espinoza, President & CEO of Inclusive Action for the City, on LA’s Street Vendors, Micro-Loans, and More

The Entrepreneurs of Color Fund (EOCF) is designed to get much-needed capital directly into the hands of small business owners serving communities of color, and has over twenty CDFI partners in local markets across the country, with LISC as national manager. Inclusive Action for the City (IAC) is a community development financial institution and an EOCF partner in Los Angeles providing micro-loans to businesses, with a focus on food vendors. IAC’s Rudy Espinoza explains why protecting street vendors must not be a passing trend but a sustained cultural shift that creates a more inclusive economy.

None
3.11.2024 -

Strong Support for Communities in the 2024 State of the Union

LISC’s Matt Josephs reflects on this year’s State of the Union speech, taking particular note of the president’s comments about affordable housing, child care, climate solutions and community safety. "Taken as a whole, the speech offered a strong and hopeful statement of purpose,” Josephs said, adding that it will take sustained leadership at all levels "to translate promising ideas into on-the-ground progress for families and communities.”

None
3.07.2024 -

A Pioneering Woman Plumber Is Growing Her Business with a Boost from LISC

Fewer than 2% of plumbers are women, but Anna Hall, the president of P&H Divine Plumbing in Chicago, is a barrier-breaking entrepreneur in the field. The first female plumber to work for the city’s Department of Water Management, Hall started her company to employ more people who looked like her and serve communities other contractors often avoided. Now, with an investment from LISC Fund Management’s Diverse Supplier Grant Initiative, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, Hall is realizing her vision for growing Divine Plumbing. Meet her and learn more in the video below!