SEPT
2014

ISSUE
No. 9

coming together
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Ceyl Prinster, President/CEO
our collective bounty

The arrival of fall evokes an enticing array of activities and emotions -- harvesting fruits and veggies, picking pumpkins, wearing cozy sweaters, and warming ourselves by crackling fireplaces. With the autumn chill, the natural thing we do is migrate indoors, where the atmosphere is made warm with the company of friends and family, aromas of food simmering on the stove or baking in the oven, and stories of summer adventures shared with others around the table.

 

For us, fall is a time when we look forward to the national Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) annual conference for the community development financial institution (CDFI) industry.
 This year it's being held in Denver!....
click here to read more

september is hunger awareness month

 

As you harvest your garden or visit a farmer's market this fall, consider these facts about hunger in Colorado*:

  • 1 in 7 Coloradoans experienced hunger in 2012 (most recent data)
  • This translates to 1 in 6 children in Colorado experiencing hunger
  • 1 in 4 working families did not have enough food to meet their basic needs
  • There are disparities in the presence of hunger:  Nationally, the rate of food insecurity varies greatly depending on race/ethnicity of the head of household - 10.6% of whites struggled to get enough to eat, compared with 26.1% of black households and 23.7% of Hispanic households.

Click here to see the calendar established by Hunger Free Colorado which identifies ways families can address hunger in Colorado and how you can help. Also share information about CEF's Healthy Foods Fund program to increase access to fresh food statewide.

 

*Provided by Social Venture Partners Denver

 

Mondo Guerra, owner
borrower buzz | mondo guerra 

 

Starting small and dreaming big. This is how Denver-based fashion designer, Mondo Guerra, describes his quest to build his brand and his business.
 

From roots in ready to wear fashion with his signature modern take on fresh colors and contrasting prints to designing eyewear and footwear for companies like SEE and CROCS, Guerra welcomes every opportunity to express himself on the runway and off. Find out how he does it by clicking here....

welcome new borrowers

 

From products and services to keep you healthy, hydrated and looking good to those that keep you powered up, on target and where you want to be with all your stuff, check out the entire list of our newest entrepreneurs and their websites to support their success!

proud partners profile | The Reinvestment Fund and

Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF) began its multi-year partnership with The Reinvestment Fund (TRF) in 2014 as part of a nationwide initiative - called ReFresh - to spur growth of small businesses that improve healthy food access in underserved rural and urban communities, and to support the development of local food systems.

 

With a $2 million grant award from the JPMorgan Chase & Co Foundation (JPM), TRF in partnership with CEF and three other nonprofit lending institutions in California, Ohio and Florida launched the first phase of ReFresh this year. For CEF, this involved hiring a local consultant who completed a comprehensive study of potential Colorado markets for healthy foods funding and related resources for small businesses. Next steps include implementing a comprehensive, targeted marketing plan to reach businesses that would benefit from such funding.

 

CEF is proud to partner with TRF, a national leader in improving the food landscape in low-income communities with more than $180 million in financing provided to 130 healthy food projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic - from supermarkets to corner stores and produce distribution centers. First serving as the manager and designer of the successful Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative in 2004, TRF has since developed a comprehensive approach to improving the healthy food landscape in local neighborhoods, cities, and states.

 

JPMorgan Chase & Co is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.4 trillion and operations worldwide. Its Foundation gives approximately $200 million annually to nonprofit organizations around the world and initiates employee volunteer activities in local communities. JPM also oversees the Mission Main Street Grants program that awards $3 million annually in grants of $150,000 each to 20 small businesses across the country. One of CEF's clients, Living Design Studios, was a recent recipient of this grant award.

 

We thank TRF and JPM for their support of CEF's small business mission and healthy foods focus in Colorado.  

  
  
 
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