Author Archive

Partners and friends,  April was an exciting month for VCCSE and the community development field. Let’s recap some of the highlights. VCCSE Staff Retreat Week  The week of April 24th was transformative for our organization. After spending the past seven months developing a strategic plan, I was so happy for our entire staff to come together in Richmond, Virginia to reconnect and explore our future. Whether it was our Management Committee and Mission, Equity, and …

Partners and Friends, March has been an incredibly active month with ample opportunities for the CDFI sector to take part in advocacy and education, and VCCSE has been right on the frontlines of engagement. Critical issues related to economic development, climate change, and affordable housing require active participation by CDFIs like us to ensure investors, philanthropy, and government provide the appropriate support to help us meet the needs of the communities we serve. Below is …

Want to know what’s on our CEO’s mind this month? Find out below! Partners and friends, For all of us at VCC Social Enterprises (VCCSE), 2023 began with a busy January. Following a year marked by both deep impact and strong economic performance, I am energized by the level of staff engagement with investors, customers, and the communities we serve. For many of our neighbors, 2022 also brought continued struggles with COVID-19, housing affordability, job …

Invest Appalachia (IA), a regional social investment fund built by and for the people of Appalachia, has a clear goal: to accelerate and expand community investment across Central Appalachia. To do so, IA builds on the region’s existing strengths, working side-by-side with partners who are rooted in place and understand their communities. After six years of collaborative stakeholder design, Invest Appalachia is now a fully operational platform positioned to do just that. In November 2022, …

As we embark on a new year, I am humbled by the experiences of my first year with VCC Social Enterprises (VCCSE). I learned a lot from our investors, partners, communities, and customers. Most importantly, I value the work with our team and what we’ve accomplished together so far. Each member of our organization has been exceptional in their commitment to our mission and the communities we serve. I am excited about the expansion of …

Truist has committed $7 million to support BIPOC- and women-led businesses Virginia Community Capital (VCC) has received a $7 million investment from Truist to support VCC’s Economic Equity Fund, a loan fund expanding access to capital and technical assistance for small business owners who are women and/or Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). The fund is a statewide resource, available to eligible borrowers in the Commonwealth of Virginia. VCC is a statewide community development …

NORFOLK, Virginia – November 2, 2022 – Virginia Community Capital (VCC) has received a $100,000 investment from Dollar Bank to bolster technical assistance for small business owners who are women and/or Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). The funding will specifically support VCC’s services in the Hampton Roads region through the organization’s Economic Equity Fund. VCC is a statewide community development financial institution (CDFI) that serves low-to-moderate-income communities in Virginia. VCC’s Economic Equity Fund …

Want to know what’s on our CEO’s mind this month? Find out below! Partners and Friends,  October was an exciting and busy time for VCCSE. As I expressed in our last newsletter, VCCSE is positioned to lead the field of community development through the performance of our lending and advisory services (VCC Bank, our loan fund, and LOCUS), our participation in Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) industry events, and by utilizing our voice on critical …

Want to know what’s on our CEO’s mind this month? Find out below! Partners and Friends,  As summer has wound down, we at VCCSE are at the start of a busy fall season. We kicked off the season with an All Staff Retreat in Richmond, VA on September 15th. It was such a joy to be with almost every member of our team in person! We started the afternoon with a session facilitated by our …

Set within the colorful exuberance of the Arts and Culture District in Richmond, Virginia, 1708 Gallery sits in between busy restaurants, hotels, and museums. While the sounds of the newest exhibit resonate throughout the long and lofty space, plans within the office are unfolding for a bold new project. The idea of a live-in artist residency program has long captured the imaginations of the 44-year-old nonprofit’s leaders and community. The organization’s mission is to create …