CIC could not be more thrilled to announce the business owners selected to participate in the first-ever BIPOC Community Managed Loan Fund!
This fund was carefully designed to serve Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs in Southern Arizona with 0% interest microloans, ranging from $500 to $10,000.
We received 50+ applications, with requests for $400,000+, proving there is a huge unmet need in our community.
Join us in welcoming the first cohort of business owners!
The selected business owners will now take part in financial education courses and finalize loan terms, as well as receive free support from our partners at Startup Tucson.
Thank you to our loan committee who gave tirelessly of their time and had the impossible task of both creating the process and making selections amongst so many great applications!
And finally, this would not have been possible without our key partners, blaxfriday and Startup Tucson, with funding from Tucson Electric Power, Cox Communications and BBVA, and supported by Growth Partners Arizona and the Tucson Metro Chamber.
And this is just the beginning! Stay tuned for future opportunities to get involved with this important program.
Meet the first cohort of BIPOC Community Managed Loan Fund businesses.
- Bali Bock – Awareness Ranch
- Carlos Jaimez – Canyon Appliance Repair
- Cortnie Smith – Cookinwitcort
- Da’Lice Shepard – Apostrophe Marketing
- Iwona Ash – Iwona Ash Design
- Jason Shered – Black Broccoli
- Julie Trotta – Fungirl’s Fungi
- Katrina Calderon – Regal Fierce Media
- Reginald Kennedy – FRAQTALS
- Robert Palmer – Cleaning Technique
- Seanloui Dumas – Black Renaissance
- Sierra Horsey – Song and Sugar Sweets
- Syrena Arevalo – Barrio Books
- Tiffany Nakatani – Love In A Cup
- Tina Marie Wilken – Nosh Tucson
- Travis Freeman – Healthful Flowers
CIC’s BIPOC Community Managed Loan Fund is in partnership with BLAX Friday and Startup Tucson.
