Dr. Gene Gelgelu founded African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS) in St. Paul, MN to help fellow African immigrants build wealth through entrepreneurship and homeownership. LISC has been by his side, offering guidance and support, since the organization’s inception. Our latest contribution: nine LISC AmeriCorps - Economic Mobility Corps members who enhance the capacity of AEDS while getting a taste of what it’s like to work in community development.

Alabama-based Epiphanys recently received a $350,000 acquisition loan from LISC to expand its capacity to serve federal agencies and fuel growth through new contracts. The loan was supported by Truist, Mackenzie Scott, and the Wells Fargo Open for Business Fund.

Houston-based Laveer Logix recently received a $260,000 working capital loan from LISC to expand its capacity to serve federal agencies and fuel growth through new contracts. The loan was supported by the Abbott-LISC Initiative to Support Diverse Businesses in Health and the LISC Entrepreneurs of Color Fund supported by JPMorganChase.

Building Inclusive and Healthy Neighborhoods, Block by Block: Findings from 11 Neighborhoods Nationwide

LISC + Brookings Metro

A new report from Brookings Metro examines LISC’s community-centered economic inclusion initiative, which centers neighborhoods as the key setting for driving strong regional economies. The lessons in this report make one thing clear: To truly transform the prosperity and well-being of entire cities and regions, it’s past time to abandon top-down or “trickle-down” approaches and embrace the actionable, community-rooted models that have demonstrated impact in cities and neighborhoods nationwide.  Image courtesy of Jana River Medlock Photography

By Mark Kudlowitz, LISC Senior Policy Director

Recent research highlights the importance and needs of nonprofit community development organizations. LISC’s Mark Kudlowitz examines how this data informs our work and the need for additional resources to support these groups’ abilities to help communities across the country.

In a new blog, LISC’s Matt Josephs connects the dots from community development policy discussions to actual funding streams, highlighting positive local outcomes that would not otherwise move forward. "It would be nearly impossible to unlock the tens of billions of dollars of private financing needed each year to scale up progress without strong federal support,” he writes. "We are grateful for the confidence federal agencies have shown in LISC and others in the community development finance field…"