Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (Wacif)

2024 Cultivate Summit Tickets are LIVE! You can register today to join us on Friday, June 21, from 9 AM to 4 PM at the 2024 Cultivate Summit, a day-long conference focused on cultivating cross-sector connections for women entrepreneurs and creating opportunities for education, network development, and direct technical assistance. This year’s theme, Leading with Intention, underscores our deep commitment to fostering a supportive environment where women founders can invest in their personal and professional growth and development. Through the Cultivate Summit, we empower women entrepreneurs to transition from the day-to-day operations of their businesses to strategic and intentional leadership roles. The event will be hosted at Convene, 600 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005. Registration closes on June 17 at 5 PM ET- purchase your ticket now via #linkinbio! https://lnkd.in/e9AKFN_c

Meet Brian Bailey- a self-taught, multi-faceted artist, creative entrepreneur, owner of Brian Bailey Art LLC, and one of two featured entrepreneurs who will be speaking tomorrow at the (Re)Connect! Celebrate #NationalSmallBusinessWeek with us at our complimentary happy hour from 6-8 PM at Hill Prince Bar. Spots are filling up, and registration is required- sign up today (attendees must be 21+): https://lnkd.in/evQ3Dvpc

Celebrating #NationalSmallBusinessWeek! This week and every week, we recognize small businesses, startup organizations, and the entrepreneurs who drive innovation, create jobs, and shape our communities. Since 1987, Wacif has had the honor of serving entrepreneurs by providing access to capital products, services, and individualized technical assistance. Small businesses are the heart of our neighborhoods, and we're here to support their growth and success- to learn more about our services, visit wacif.org/services. In honor of National Small Business Week, join us for a complimentary happy hour this Thursday, May 2, from 6-8 PM at Hill Prince. The (Re)Connect - an opportunity for networking, strategy building, and community engagement! Registration is required- spots are limited; sign up today: https://lnkd.in/evQ3Dvpc

Next week, The ReConnect is back! Come celebrate Mike Utaegbulam, one of two featured entrepreneurs during our small business month celebration. Learn more about his business over drinks and games at Hill Prince on 5/2 from 6 to 9 pm. Register now: https://lnkd.in/eue43pcZ

Meet Jessica G Randolph, our Associate Creative Director at Anacostia Arts Center and discover her inspiring WacifWhy! and what makes Wacif culture so special. Stay tuned! #WhyWacif

This Earth Day, we invite you to join us as we reflect on the importance of environmental stewardship, as well as share with you our commitment to empowering local businesses to thrive while increasing sustainable practices. Check out our exclusive Wacif Spotlight blog featuring our Equitable Development Fellow, Geneva Greene: https://lnkd.in/eCywXNi8 Together, let's build a greener future for our community and beyond!

Last Friday Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (Wacif) had its first #WacifDay at the beautiful Anacostia Arts Center. We celebrated all of their success with great company, delicious food and drinks. Filled with individuals passionate about making a difference, their mission is not only to give back to our community but also to empower entrepreneurs, enabling them to achieve financial freedom and success. CFO Services Group we are honored to not only serve as a strategic partner but also to wholeheartedly support this noble mission. Our commitment runs deep as we stand alongside dedicated individuals, ensuring their endeavors towards community betterment and entrepreneurial empowerment thrive. Aurora Market DC , Blk Wax Bar , CFO Services Group, DC Bar Litigation Community, Enterprising Women of Color DMV Business Center , Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (Wacif) YOCO Confections Anacostia Arts Center

On March 29, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced the selection of 17 new Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), including a Washington, D.C. location that will be hosted by the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif).   The SBA’s WBCs offer one-on-one counseling, training, networking, workshops, technical assistance, and mentorship to women entrepreneurs on numerous business development topics, including business startups, financial management, marketing, and procurement. “Through WBCs, the SBA provides practical help to women working hard to build successful businesses of their own,” said Christina Hale, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Women's Business Ownership.    We look forward to continuing to pursue Wacif's mission to increase equity and economic opportunity within our communities by hosting SBA's new Washington, D.C. Women's Business Center. To read the full press release, visit: https://lnkd.in/gvku83PC

This past Friday, we celebrated our very first #WacifDay at the Anacostia Arts Center! Our dynamic open house focused on the heart of our mission - empowering DMV entrepreneurs to thrive and succeed. The day was filled with engaging activities like one-on-one lending consultations, technical assistance services, workshops, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and a tour of the Hive co-working space.   A big thank you to our event sponsors LISC DC and our panelists and speakers, DJ ARTis, Blk Wax Bar, YOCO Confections, Aurora Market DC, DC Bar Litigation Community, CFO Services Group, and SOAR Community Network, LLC - to stay updated on future events and next year's #WacifDay, visit: https://wacif.org/events/

Excited to support our CEO Shannan Herbert at tomorrow's National Community Reinvestment Coalition - NCRC conference, where she'll be talking about residential segregation and how we can continue to advance policies that challenge segregation in the current political and legal landscape. To learn more about the NCRC Just Economy Conference, visit: https://lnkd.in/ewREe9tv