PACOIMA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VEDC:
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What: |
Grand opening of the Pacoima Entrepreneur Center, constructed by VEDC to help revitalize and create new jobs in this economically distressed community. The 3-story, 13,895-square-foot commercial building was made possible by a $3.75 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. VEDC anticipates the Center will create and or place at least 350 jobs over the next 5 years. Complimentary continental breakfast will be served. | |||
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When: |
8:30-10:30 a.m., Thursday, July 9, 2015 | |||
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Where: |
Pacoima Entrepreneur Center, 13420 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331 | |||
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Why: |
VEDC strongly believes that the key to job creation is in the establishment and growth of small businesses. The Pacoima Entrepreneur Center was created to provide small business and virtual incubation services to emerging entrepreneurs as well as workforce development services to help low-income individuals seeking to find and retain employment. It is necessary to nurture entrepreneurs and small business owners and build their self-sufficiency to increase the community’s capacity for economic equality and an improved quality of life and contribute to the economic vitality of the community. The Pacoima Entrepreneur Center will ultimately serve as a catalyst for further development in Pacoima and its surrounding communities, which include Los Angeles County’s most economically distressed areas. | |||
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Who: |
Jay Williams – Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the United States Economic Development Administration. Mr. Williams is charged with leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the global economy. | |||
| Robert Sainz – Assistant General Manager of Operations, City of Los Angeles, Economic and Workforce Development Department. Mr. Sainz has spent nearly 20 years in public service committed to addressing the issues of unemployment and poverty. | ||||
| Pegi Matsuda – Chairman of the Board for VEDC – Senior Vice President, Community & Market Development, Valley Presbyterian Hospital. As Chairman, Ms. Matsuda is leading VEDC in becoming the largest alternative lender to minority- and women-owned businesses. | ||||
| Roberto Barragan – President and CEO of VEDC. Mr. Barragan has over 28 years of experience managing non-profit organizations, including the last twenty involved in community economic development, technical assistance to for-profit and non-profit entities, and financial resource development. | ||||
VEDC is a leading non-profit small business lender that is changing the way small business lending is done by making it more available and impactful. As a national small business lender, VEDC has lent $380 million in direct and guaranteed loans to over 100,000 small businesses and created more than 28,000 new jobs. As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), VEDC’s mission is to help create jobs and promote economic development in under-served communities. It provides loans and micro-financing options to small businesses, particularly those owned by women and minorities, that don’t qualify for traditional bank financing. VEDC’s expanding portfolio is composed of community-based loan funds in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Miami, Salt Lake City and the New York Tri-State area. For more information visit www.vedc.org.
