Community Event Highlights: Black History Month
February was a busy month for the Working Solutions team! From tabling to presenting, our program staff took part in events across the Bay Area to share information about our loans and business consulting services. We were also excited to participate in our first-ever Twitter chat hosted by Small Business Majority in honor of Black History Month.
Working Solutions Receives Grant Renewal from Bank of the West
Working Solutions is grateful to have received a grant renewal from Bank of the West to support women entrepreneurs and other underserved communities across the San Francisco Bay Area. We are proud to partner with Bank of the West on the Women Entrepreneurs program and look forward to our continued work together!
Working Solutions Participates in Small Business Resource Fair in Oakland’s Temescal District
Working Solutions was excited to participate in a resource fair for small businesses in the Temescal district of Oakland. Hosted by the Temescal/Telegraph Business Improvement District, this event was designed to help small business owners access resources to help grow and sustain their businesses.
Working Solutions Sponsors Manufacture: San Jose Breakfast
Working Solutions was proud to be a sponsor of the 2020 State of Local Manufacturing Breakfast held by Manufacture: San Jose on February 6—an event designed to highlight the city's vibrant manufacturing sector and how it is supporting a more equitable and diverse local economy.
Sara Razavi Interviewed in American Banker About Proposed CRA Revisions
Working Solutions CEO Sara Razavi was interviewed in American Banker about proposed revisions to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). In the article, she shares concerns about how a suggested dollar-driven measurement system could undermine smaller community investments from CDFIs like ours.
Reflections on the Clinton Foundation Conference on Domestic Economic Policy
Working Solutions CEO Sara Razavi was honored and thrilled to join President Bill Clinton, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and CDFI leaders at the Clinton Presidential Center for a domestic policy conference on economic inclusion and growth. Read Sara’s reflections on this experience.
Shop Local with the Working Solutions Client Directory
As we approach Small Business Saturday on November 30th and a busy holiday season, you can Shop Local with the Working Solutions Client Directory. Sorted by type of business and then by geography, the Directory is chock full of shopping, dining, and gift ideas. Thank you for supporting our clients with your holiday purchases and helping to keep our local economy vibrant!
Working Solutions Receives Wells Fargo Diverse Community Capital (DCC) Grant
Working Solutions is thrilled to have received a grant renewal through the Wells Fargo Diverse Community Capital (DCC) program to make capital and consulting more accessible to diverse entrepreneurs who are starting or growing businesses in the East Bay and Peninsula-South Bay. Thank you, Wells Fargo!
Working Solutions Endorses CRC’s Anti-Displacement Code of Conduct
Working Solutions is proud to support the California Reinvestment Coalition (CRC) in its efforts to promote more equitable investment practices for community development across the state. Most recently, we were pleased to endorse the CRC’s Anti-Displacement Code of Conduct.
New Video: JPMorgan Chase’s Entrepreneurs of Color Fund
Congratulations to Working Solutions client Magdy Kotb, founder of The Clothing Coach, on being featured in this new video about how the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund is making capital and business consulting more accessible to people of color who are starting or growing businesses.
Sara Razavi Elected to Opportunity Finance Network Board
Congratulations to Working Solutions CEO Sara Razavi on being elected to the board of the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), the national association of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)! Sara looks forward to working with OFN staff, members, partners, and the rest of the board to ensure that all of our communities have access to safe and affordable capital.
Working Solutions Receives SBA PRIME Grant
Working Solutions is honored to have been awarded a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration through the Program for Investment in Micro-Entrepreneurs (PRIME). Now in its 20th year, the PRIME grant program was created to help low-income entrepreneurs gain access to capital. Thank you to our local and national partners at the SBA, and congratulations to our fellow grantees across the country.