Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (Wacif)

Calling all creative entrepreneurs in the DMV area! The Ascend Retail Business Accelerator for Fall 2024 is now accepting applications. This 6-week program, powered by SEED SPOT and Wacif, is designed to help you scale your retail brand. ✨ Who should apply? - Independent clothing brands - Small-scale manufacturers - Artists selling original pieces and creative products - Businesses generating $25,000 in annual sales 📅 Key Dates: Application Deadline: September 13, 2024 Program Runs: October 7 - November 13, 2024 There is not cost to participate and no equity taken to participate in this program. Learn more and apply now: https://ow.ly/Bpb250T6Qyo Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (Wacif) #CreativeEntrepreneurs #RetailAccelerator #DMVBusiness #SEEDSPOT #WashingtonDC T. Espinoza

📣 Calling All Small Retail Businesses! 📣 This fall, Ascend is launching the first Ascend Retail Cohort - focused on product-based businesses that are ready to scale! Whether you’re a seasoned pop-up vendor or an e-commerce pro, our program offers the training and resources to help you succeed. Connect with mentors, attend live sessions, and get involved in the community. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eVhrnYb8 Don’t miss this chance to ascend with us. Apply by September 13th!

Celebrating Black excellence in the DMV 🎉 We’re spotlighting some incredible Black men who serve our community through their entrepreneurship. From retail to consulting, swipe to discover amazing local Black-owned businesses to support this #BlackBusinessMonth!

Celebrating Black Business Month in DC! 🎉 Wacif joined forces with Mastercard at The Spice Suite in "Solidarity in Action: Celebrating Black Business Month in the Nation's Capital"- an inspiring event showcasing local entrepreneurs. From a vibrant small business marketplace to insightful panel discussions, we explored the future of DC's entrepreneurial ecosystem. During the Access to Capital panel, our CEO, Shannan Herbert, shared Wacif's vision for empowering local businesses through innovative financing. Thank you, Mastercard, Capital One, and the Spice Suite for the opportunity to come together and work towards building a stronger, more inclusive business community in our nation's capital! #BlackBusinessMonth #DCSmallBiz

Meet dental health expert, Dr. Nekia Staley-Neither! We are honored to have recently had the opportunity to spotlight Dr. Staley-Neither, a shining example of Black excellence in entrepreneurship and healthcare. A native Washingtonian and graduate of Howard University, she has established a thriving dental practice while passionately dedicating herself to community service and inclusive care. Join us as we delve into Dr. Staley-Neither's inspiring path, her unwavering commitment to serving diverse communities, and the unique challenges and triumphs she has encountered as a Black woman in dentistry.

"To me, the biggest takeaway from our all of our cohorts and accelerators is that you now have a lifelong partner in both Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (Wacif) and the members of your cohort, small business owners and entrepreneurs, that you can rely on and create community with." Do you know Shannan Herbert, CEO of Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (Wacif) and a celebrated leader in wealth building in underserved communities of color? Her passion for helping people outside of the financial mainstream started as a student at Howard University, when, as an intern at a bank, she helped an aspiring entrepreneur create a winning business plan for his loan application. That experience set her on a professional path to opening up opportunities for those with small business and entrepreneurial aspirations, primarily through CDFIs, which make accessible and affordable financing possible. At Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (Wacif), Shannan and her team serve those who are just beginning their small business journey to those pursuing business expansion. She is also, with Erin Kilmer Neel, leading the Underwriting for Racial Justice initiative, which is galvanizing systemic changes in how lenders perceives and serve borrowers of color. Of course we also talk about her related role as a Board officer and champion of Rochdale Capital. Don't miss this rich conversation and please like, comment and repost!! bit.ly/46lPDgV #CDFIs #Underwriting #RacialJustice #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #FinancialInclusion Stratify City First Bank Rochdale Capital Beneficial State Foundation

Thrilled to announce that the Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (Wacif) has been awarded a $3.6M three-year grant through the Greater Washington Community Foundation Health Equity Fund in partnership with Coalition for Nonprofit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED). This grant will enable us to launch an innovative economic mobility strategy focused on the green economy, ensuring local BIPOC entrepreneurs are provided with the resources and capital to participate in green industries and implement sustainability-focused business practices. More information including insights from Wacif's CEO, Shannan Herbert, and CNHED's CEO, Stephen Glaude, can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eRDNC5Di

Reflecting on an empowering day at the 2024 Enterprising Women of Color DMV Business Center (powered by Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (Wacif)) Cultivate Summit: Women Leading with Intention! On Friday, June 21, 2024, 172 women founders in the DMV region gathered at the Convene meeting and event space in Washington, D.C., to participate in a transformative one-day experience to invest in their personal and professional development at the 2024 #EWOCCultivateSummit. The exclusive event brought together women entrepreneurs from various industries, ranging from childcare to beauty, to cultivate a space to access resources, knowledge, and community to help strengthen and evolve their businesses. Read the full blog post to learn more about key takeaways from our speakers on what it means to “lead with intention.”

Are you a #smallbusiness trying to understand your reporting obligations under the #CTA #CorporateTransparencyAct ? How to identify beneficial owners? When to report? Is your business exempt? Sign up for D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center 's upcoming #FREE #legal clinic on July 25 to speak one-on-one with an attorney about your business & the CTA! Register NOW at https://lnkd.in/eQbb_GpY

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with our Chief Lending Officer, Shauna Yeldell, to discuss the new wave of #sustainable development and what that means for the future of our communities. Yeldell, whose career began in traditional banking, is an advocate for transformative change, combining her expertise with a deep commitment to increasing equal opportunity through access to capital for DMV entrepreneurs. To read the full blog, visit the link below: