Nikita Mathis, who started selling fashion from the trunk of her car before opening a boutique 20 years ago, and Talya Miller, who developed a love for cooking soul food during her years as an emergent care foster parent, are two women entrepreneurs whose drive and generosity serve as an inspiration to others in their South Seattle community. With support from the U.S. Bank Access Fund, LISC and our on-the ground partner – HomeSight – helped both business owners recover from the pandemic and position themselves for the new economy.

When LISC first spoke with the Veola’s team in 2021, the small business had just received a $365,000 LISC loan following months of COVID-19 restrictions that put the spa in jeopardy of closing down. We checked in with Veola’s Day Spa and Wellness Center to see how the extra support has helped the 18-year-old business pivot during challenging times

LISC Phoenix program officer David Longoria sat down for lunch at Authentic EthioAfrica with owner Anduale Hassan, who emigrated from Ethiopia in the 1990s with a vision for creating a community space—and two decades of experience in the food business to help make it a reality.

By Lisa Glover, LISC CEO

LISC’s CEO Lisa Glover reflects on lessons learned while leading the organization through another pandemic year, the imperative of listening to diverse views and strategies that LISC will deploy in 2022 to promote equity and wellbeing in communities we work with.

Last year, Uber, Paypal, Walgreens and LISC teamed up to supply free rides to COVID vaccine appointments for people with barriers to transportation via an $11 million fund. Those rides have not only expanded vaccine access to underserved residents, they have turned out to be a vehicle to broader vaccine education and wellbeing.

Did you know that while you’re practicing social distancing, many LISC borrowers are still open for business – through pick-up, delivery or online services? Check out the companies in our portfolio offering a broad range of products and services that you can support right now!