The Center by Lendistry

Jeannette Flores-Katz and Ken Katz turned challenges into opportunities, creating La Bodega, a vibrant hub for food and connection in Atlanta. With support from Invest Atlanta and Beltline Business Ventures, a small business accelerator from the Atlanta Beltline Solutions Office in partnership with The Center and CVM Worldwide, they’re growing their impact and strengthening community ties. Read their inspiring journey here: https://lnkd.in/gUH36ATZ #LaBodega #BeltlineBusinessVentures #TheCenterbyLendistry. #AtlantaSmallBusiness Tunua Thrash-Ntuk Miranda Rodriguez Ritzy Mullings Kosher Guacamole Corp.

Thank you Pacific Premier Bank and Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco for supporting The Center by Lendistry's Main Street Goes Green initiative for a resilient, inclusive green economy!

I am just wrapping up my time at the Council of Development Finance Agencies National Summit, where I led a session on Innovative Approaches to Equitable Lending. This conference brought together public and private sector leaders dedicated to advancing inclusive and sustainable financing solutions for communities across the country. Congratulations and thank you to CDFA on an impactful convening! In our session, we explored forward-thinking strategies to make lending more accessible and equitable. It was inspiring to connect with peers who are passionate about reshaping development finance to drive positive, lasting change. A special thank you to our moderator and fellow panelist, Sisera Daniel and Shelly Gross-Wade for sharing your insights and expertise.

The Center by Lendistry's team members participated in the recent SCALE Network meeting in San Diego, convened by CAMEO Network. We’re grateful for the leadership of Tara Lynn Gray of California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) in advancing this important initiative to support California’s diverse small business community. The SCALE program is dedicated to helping businesses in low-to-moderate wealth, rural, and disaster-impacted communities access the capital they need to grow. Through SCALE, we’re raising awareness of funding opportunities and providing one-on-one coaching to help business owners prepare their applications, navigate the loan process, and select financing that’s the best fit for their needs. At this convening, our CEO, Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, shared The Center’s work on launching a resource hub and business advisor training program—key components in strengthening support networks for small business owners across the state.

Honoring the strength, resilience, and dedication of veteran entrepreneurs this National Veterans Small Business Week! ????? From November 11-15, we celebrate those who served our country and are now building thriving businesses in our communities. #NationalVeteranSmallBusinessWeek #VeteranOwned #SmallBusinessStrong #VeteranEntrepreneurs

The shift to a greener economy is here—and we're leading the charge to ensure it’s inclusive for all communities. With major investments in clean energy and sustainable practices, there’s a tremendous opportunity to empower diverse small businesses and underserved communities to thrive in this transition. But many face unique barriers, from limited access to resources to fewer opportunities in green initiatives. That’s where we come in. Visit our new Climate Resiliency page to learn more about our work in building an equitable, sustainable economy. And if you're interested in partnering with us to support inclusive climate resilience, we’d love to connect! ?? https://lnkd.in/gCg5uZfw #ClimateResilience #GreenEconomy #SustainableFuture #InclusiveEconomy Lendistry Tunua Thrash-Ntuk Frances Weiner Shafeeq S. Marina Garcia Ritzy Mullings Leeann J. Lynch Stanley E. Washington P. David Bramble Warren Chambers Adey Tesfaye

We’re excited to welcome Shafeeq S. as our new LISC-AmeriCorps Fellow at The Center! Shafeeq brings valuable expertise in real estate, project management, and community service, with a unique focus on land acquisitions, zoning, and sustainable building practices. As our new Climate Finance Coordinator, Shafeeq will aid in the development of the Green Communities Toolkit, a strategic resource designed to help local businesses implement sustainable growth strategies. “This work is about building a foundation for long-term success and creating a more sustainable future for everyone we serve,” Shafeeq shares. We’re looking forward to the impact Shafeeq will make in fostering stronger, more resilient communities. Please join us in welcoming Shafeeq to the team! #TheCenterbyLendistry #LISCAmeriCorpsFellow Tunua Thrash-Ntuk Miranda Rodriguez Marina Garcia Frances Weiner Ritzy Mullings Lendistry

On World Sustainability Day, The Center joined the City of Pasadena's Economic Development Division, City Manager Miguel Marquez, Councilmember Justin L. Jones, Water and Power Department, and the Pasadena Women’s Business Center for the Going Green Workshop lunch with Pasadena small business owners. It was a great chance to talk about practical ways to save water and energy, and to share information about rebates, incentive programs, and funding options for going green. Hearing directly from business owners about their efforts to become more climate-resilient was truly inspiring, and we’re excited to keep working together to build a more sustainable future for Pasadena’s small businesses. #TheCenterbyLendistry #CityofPasadena Tunua Thrash-Ntuk Frances Weiner Shafeeq S. Deborah Maria Membre?o Teresa Garcia Ariel Fan GreenWealth Energy

?? Our October newsletter has hit inboxes!?? Check out the full newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/gxdqxsgJ Not subscribed to our newsletter yet? Sign up today: https://lnkd.in/gbhunPg6 #TheCenterbyLendistry Tunua Thrash-Ntuk Miranda Rodriguez Marina Garcia Ritzy Mullings Frances Weiner

Thank you to the League of California Cities and our panelists—Evan Johnson, MPA (City of Pasadena), Nick Kimball (City of San Fernando), and Steve Guagliardo (City of Palo Alto)—for an impactful discussion on climate resiliency! On October 17, The Center's President & CEO, Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, led this dynamic panel at the League’s Annual Conference on the climate challenges facing small businesses across urban and rural communities. Tunua highlighted The Center’s work in helping local jurisdictions address sustainability needs for their small businesses. The session wrapped with strategies for accessing financial resources to ensure an inclusive, equitable transition to a green economy. #ClimateResilience #GreenEconomy City of Pasadena City of San Fernando City of Palo Alto Blue Sky Center Shafeeq S. Frances Weiner Miranda Rodriguez