“The Industrial Development Authority of the City of Sierra Vista is committed to supporting entrepreneurs and closing the financial gap that has historically limited access to opportunity for people of color. Our community, deeply rooted in a rich tapestry of cultures, is a testament to the strength of diversity. From the courageous Buffalo Soldiers who defended our nation, to the proud Hispanic heritage that continues to shape our identity, to the resilient Apache nations and the Asian cultures that helped build our railroads and mines, Sierra Vista and Cochise County have always been built on the sweat and determination of individuals who embody the entrepreneurial spirit.
This is a place where hard work, perseverance, and innovation are cherished and celebrated. We are proud to support the BIPOC Loan Fund, and we are excited to help expand its reach, ensuring that more entrepreneurs in our community have the access and resources they need to thrive. Together, we are honoring the legacy of those who came before us and continuing to build a future of opportunity for all.”
– The Industrial Development Authority of the City of Sierra Vista Board of Directors
Introducing CLEAR (Community Land, Estate, and Asset Resolution), Community Investment Corporation’s new Southern Arizona Heirs Property Program. This program is designed to help Southern Arizonans protect and keep homes, land, and other assets in their families through the inheritance process.
Community Investment Corporation (CIC), in partnership with Vantage West Credit Union, has been awarded a $200,000 AHEAD Program grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco).
The funding will help CIC expand Arizona’s first coordinated heirs’ property initiative, providing estate planning education, legal navigation, title resolution assistance, and cross-sector support to help families preserve homeownership and protect generational wealth.
The Community Investment Corporation is a Tucson-based nonprofit that provides loans and financial coaching for small businesses. Earlier this year, it was one of several local organizations awarded $700,000 to support small childcare businesses that are less likely to get loans from banks.
The award is part of a greater $3 million effort from the state to expand affordable childcare access.
In this episode of the Let’s Talk Small Biz Finance Podcast, Danny Knee chats with Heath Vescovi-Chiordi about how regional economic strategies foster community growth, support small businesses, and adapt to global shifts. They explore the tools, policies, and innovative projects driving economic resilience and community benefit in Tucson and beyond.
CIC is proud to have received a grant from the Nasdaq Foundation to support the ongoing expansion of the Arizona Capital Access Program (AZ CAP). AZ CAP seeks to address disparities in equity capital access through a two-pronged approach – by bridging the social capital gap that many entrepreneurs from under resourced backgrounds face and by expanding decision making power beyond current and traditional equity investment institutions.
Community Investment Corporation (CIC) is proud to be one the community lending organizations selected for the Bright Futures AZ Child Care Microbusiness Investment Grants. The goal of the program is to create more child care slots for Arizona Families by facilitating access to capital and wraparound support for child care providers to help grow their businesses.
CIC’s Executive Director, Danny Knee, had the opportunity to speak with Nasdaq’s Purpose Communications Specialist, Brittany Greene, about CIC’s work to reshape Arizona’s capital ecosystem through inclusion, innovation, and community trust.
What does it take to fund a dream? In this episode, CIC Executive Director Danny Knee sits down with Kiva’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Associate Reteisha Byrd for a fast-paced conversation breaking down how Kiva works, for both borrowers and lenders.
CIC’s Executive Director Danny Knee caught up with Alicia Robb – economist, angel investor, and Founder & CEO of Next Wave Impact – ahead of TENWEST to talk about what it really takes to unlock capital for entrepreneurs. Alicia is a globally recognized expert on entrepreneurial finance and will be one of the Keynote speakers at TENWEST.
Providing between $500 – $25,000 in funding with a 3% interest rate, the Green Loan Fund can be a game-changer for local businesses, according to Local First Outreach and Resource Manager Moises Gomez, as they pay back the loan using savings generated from upgrading wasteful energy and water systems.
We are pleased to announce that the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona’s (CFSA) 2025-2027 African American Legacy Fund (AALF) Grants have awarded $50,000 to 5 exceptional nonprofits in the region. They are Blue Lotus Artist’s Collective, Community Investment Corporation (BIPOC Loan Fund), Dynamic Breast Cancer Care, Sierra Vista Dream Center, and The Multivrs Is Illuminated.
Donate to the BIPOC Loan Fund Here BIPOC Loan Fund receives $10,000 Donation from the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Sierra Vista.
