Community Investment Collaborative

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The Community Investment Collaborative, formerly the Community Investment Corporation, (CIC) is a locally focused microfinancing group based in Charlottesville that was founded in 2011. [1] It aims to ameliorate the difficulty many small businesses have in obtaining funding from traditional banks.

Since its founding in 2012, the group has awarded more than $206,000 in loans, helped to launch 61 businesses and aided in the growth of 76 existing businesses. [2]


Background

In 2011, CIC secured funding for its first year and hired its first staff member, Hebah Fisher, a recent UVA graduate in microfinance.

In itss early stages, the group aimed to be a "nexus for everything small business," from providing microloans, to providing education for small businesses, to pairing new owners with established mentors[3].

The CIC takes entrepreneurs with an existing businesses or idea through 4 months of training in the technical aspects of running a small business. The participants also are matched with experiences business owners as mentors through the process. After the 17-week program, the graduates of the CIC can apply for microloans up to $35,000 to go towards growing their small business.[4]

Organizers of the CIC plan to begin the project with nonprofit status and eventually add a for-profit branch. It hopes to be financially self-sustaining within three years. It plans to gain revenue from membership dues, client fees, and educational seminars[3].

2013

The third CIC class began on September 3, 2013, with 27 entrepreneurs participating from Louisa, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Charlottesville, and Staunton.[5]

2018

The CIC opened up a collaborative workspace on Preston Avenue in March 2018. [2]


Board Members

Former board members

References

  1. Web. Community Investment Collaborative, Non-profit profiles, Center for Non Profit Excellence, retrieved May 1, 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Web. CIC opens workspace for local entrepreneurs, Josh Mandell, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 30, 2018, retrieved April 4, 2018.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Web. Thinking outside the banks: CIC tries to grow Charlottesville's small businesses, Brendan Fitzgerald, C-VILLE Weekly, Portico Publications, 25 Oct, 2011, retrieved 28 Oct, 2011. Print. 25 Oct, 2011 , 23.43,  page 10.
  4. Web. Community Investment Collaborative, retrieved 3 September 2013.
  5. E-mail. Stephen Davis, Community Investment Collaborative. "CIC Announces Fall Class." Message to . 3 September 2013.

External Links