Microenterprise / Small Business Development for African immigrants and internationals

The Problem
There are an estimated 7,000 plus African immigrants, refugees and internationals’ currently living in the Southwestern Pennsylvania region and this figure is fast increasing. Up to 70 percent of these minority groups have special skills in various areas that are suitable for microenterprise/small businesses of which local and international markets exist, and could contribute to boosting the region’s economy. Sadly, these potential skills are left to waste, as the structure and requirements of general small business assistance programs made it inaccessible to the target population. Even with a business plan handy, most Africans and internationals who aspire to establish, expand, or stabilize a small business lack the financial resources, credit history and/or personal assets to qualify for business loans and assistance through mainstream financial institutions. Hence, they continue to rank high among low-income, poverty stricken, under employed and suffer community resistance and distain when seen only as new competitors for the little available jobs in the community instead of creating jobs and businesses. Hence, there is a great need for a culturally competent effort to provide customized/personalized microenterprise and small business support to African immigrants and internationals in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

CEED’s Approach

• Identify entrepreneurs with viable business ideas/skills interested in starting a business or need help to stabilize or expand an existing business.
• Culturally Competent Staff Provides one-on-one business planning assistance in collaboration with Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence (University of Pittsburgh).
• Provide flexible business micro-loan.
• If Macro-Loan is necessary, help entrepreneurs with low interest loan acquisition process.
• Provide 3 – 5 years stabilization services to start-ups and struggling businesses (administrative, marketing, accounting, legal etc.).
• Grant research and technical assistance.
• Though we focus on immigrants/refugees, we also provide all above services to other minority entrepreneurs and business owners.