The Center by Lendistry

What a week! The 40th Annual Opportunity Finance Network Conference brought together such an inspiring group of CDFI leaders, partners, and changemakers, and it was incredible to be part of it. Congratulations to OFN on this milestone year and on hosting another fantastic conference! With historic climate-focused capital flowing into CDFIs, it’s clearer than ever that our collective work is essential. This week, I connected with peers who are deeply committed to ensuring that this capital makes a real, transformative impact in communities that have long been overlooked and underserved. To everyone I had the chance to connect with and to those who keep this work moving forward, thank you for an incredible week! Here’s to the next 40 years of growth and impact in our communities. #OFN40 Miranda Rodriguez Shafeeq S. Marina Garcia Leeann J. Lynch christina travers Tate Hill Ari Beliak Jason Friedman Alexandra Dawson Adewale OgunBadejo David Ponraj Orson Aguilar Donna Gambrell Hilda Kennedy OC Isaac Lendistry The Center by Lendistry

Day 1 of the Opportunity Finance Network Annual Conference is in the books, and what an inspiring start! I co-led a tour of South LA, hosted by Lendistry, The Center by Lendistry, Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation (VSEDC) and Self-Help Credit Union, where we visited some incredible local businesses in the community - Dulan's Soul Food On Crenshaw, Earle’s Grill, South LA Cafe and 27th Street Bakery Shop, Inc. I want to thank Jason Foster for a behind-the-scenes tour of Destination Crenshaw. It’s great to see how CDFIs are making a difference on the ground by supporting businesses and expanding access to capital where it’s needed most. Looking forward to the rest of the week and more meaningful discussions on how we can continue to push forward. #greatestOFN2024communitytour Miranda Rodriguez Rutger Choquehuanca

Check out the interview with Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, The Center’s President & CEO!

🚨 Calling all small business owners and financial decision-makers! The Federal Reserve’s 2024 Small Business Credit Survey is now live. Your input matters—share your experience with business finances, the role of debt, and the challenges you’re facing. Your feedback helps shape data that informs the Fed, government agencies, service providers, and policymakers. This insight helps improve the support available to businesses like yours. 💡 Your voice drives change. Take the 12-minute survey and make an impact: https://lnkd.in/gRNnqzTm #SmallBusiness #FedSurvey #BusinessCredit #BusinessGrowth Tunua Thrash-Ntuk Miranda Rodriguez Marina Garcia

I’m looking forward to leading the “Main Street Climate Resiliency: Urban and Rural Solutions” panel at the League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo on Oct 17th at 4pm. I’ll be joined by The Center's partners from the City of Pasadena, City of San Fernando, and City of Palo Alto to share strategies that can help cities support small businesses and build stronger local economies through climate resilience. But we won’t succeed alone. To truly make this transition to a green economy inclusive for all communities, we need to join forces. If you’re attending, I’d love to connect and hear your thoughts on how we can drive sustainable change together. Learn more about The Center's climate resilience work here: http://bit.ly/48i6RN1 Evan Johnson, MPA Kanika Kith Steve Guagliardo Frances Weiner Miranda Rodriguez The Center by Lendistry League of California Cities

🌟SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT🌟 Meet the founders of XFM Electric Cooperative (XFM): Izzy Bravo, Ilana Feingold, and Anna Bautista (she/her)! Based in LA, XFM is specializing in commercial and residential EV charging infrastructure while working toward becoming a worker-owned cooperative. They’re committed to diversity and inclusion, empowering women, queer, trans, and BIPOC individuals in leadership and employment. The XFM team is currently participating in the Contractors Accelerator for Climate Resilience, a program led by The Center in collaboration with CMG Alliance and GRID Alternatives . This initiative empowers diverse-owned construction businesses in Southern California by helping them unlock new revenue streams, secure funding, and grow in renewable energy and green infrastructure. Check out our conversation with the team as they share their journey through the program! #WomenInConstruction #ClimateResilience #GreenEnergy #DiversityInBusiness #RenewableEnergy Tunua Thrash-Ntuk Rene Cota Miranda Rodriguez Marina Garcia Ritzy Mullings Frances Weiner

Honored to be a panelist at The State of Black LA event hosted by the Los Angeles Urban League. Along with Leticia Andueza, Tamara Maxwell, Dr. Michele G. (Sheli) Turner, MBA, Ed.D., Karim Webb, and our Panel Moderator Anthony Samad, we’ll be discussing bridging the racial wealth gap through entrepreneurship and innovation. In a city as dynamic as Los Angeles, we must prioritize economic equity and create pathways for Black entrepreneurs to thrive. Through targeted investments, innovation, and community-centered solutions, we can sustainably grow and empower Black businesses as key drivers of wealth generation. Looking forward to connecting with fellow leaders committed to creating an inclusive economy that uplifts our communities. The Center by Lendistry

October is National Women’s Small Business Month! We proudly support women entrepreneurs who drive innovation and create opportunities. Through our programs, The Center helps women-led businesses thrive. Tag a woman entrepreneur you admire! 💪 #NationalWomensSmallBusinessMonth #WomenInBusiness #TheCenterbyLendistry Tunua Thrash-Ntuk Miranda Rodriguez Marina Garcia Ritzy Mullings Frances Weiner

We're proud to share that Miranda Rodriguez, VP of Operations at The Center, recently took part in the Atlanta Beltline Funding Fair. The event brought together helpful resources for small businesses in Atlanta, focusing on how to build a strong foundation and grow. #TheCenterbyLendistry #AtlantaSmallBusinesses #AtlantaBeltline

📬 Our September newsletter is out!📬 Check out the full newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/dZiYyuvs Not subscribed to our list yet? Sign up today: https://lnkd.in/gbhunPg6 #TheCenterbyLendistry Tunua Thrash-Ntuk Miranda Rodriguez Marina Garcia Ritzy Mullings Frances Weiner