Author Archive

An update from Fredericksburg Food Co-op’s Rich Larochelle  The Opportunity Virginia team began working with Rich in 2020 to assist with their capital raise and leveraging Opportunity Zone financing. Since then, The Fredericksburg Food Cooperative has celebrated several major milestones. Opportunity Virginia Market Manager, Cara Simpson (pictured left), sits down with Rich to learn more about the project’s progress, how other people can replicate the co-op’s success, and the impact OZ financing had closing out …

Virginia Community Capital (VCC) was named a recipient of Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP) funding by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on Tuesday. VCC qualified to receive $36.4 million and is one of three financial institutions in Virginia to be awarded.

Did you know healthy food access is one of VCC’s focus areas? We provide financing and technical assistance to support healthy food retailers, suppliers, and producers in urban and rural Virginia communities. At VCC, we know being able to secure healthy, fresh food is one of the social determinants of health; without it, a family or community has a barrier to the quality of life they deserve. Lauren DeSimone, Community Innovation Advisor, leads VCC’s food …

Virginia Community Capital (VCC) has announced the hiring of Amir Kirkwood, formerly of Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), as its new president and CEO. In January, founding executive director Jane Henderson announced her plans to retire after four decades in the banking industry.

Virginia Community Capital and LOCUS Impact Investing are excited to launch Reimagine Together, a storytelling series to celebrate VCC’s 15-year anniversary. Throughout the summer and into the fall, VCC will be sharing stories of mission-driven projects and partnerships from throughout our history. Thanks to the help of many likeminded collaborators, these multimedia stories will cover the community impact we’ve supported in various areas, including affordable housing, job creation, entrepreneurship, healthy food access, impact investing, and more. We’ll discuss how the …

On July 2nd, Senator Mark Warner hosted an event in Richmond to discuss the recently announced U.S. Treasury award of $1.25 billion in COVID-19 relief funds to 863 community development financial institutions (CDFIs) nationwide. VCC welcomed the Senator at Home Team Grill in the Fan district of Richmond, alongside some of our clients and collaborators. Those in attendance met VCC partners including Bon Air Soap Company, Reliable Tax, Virginia LISC, The Jackson Ward Collective, The …

Yesterday, Vice President Kamala Harris, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, U.S. Senator Mark Warner, and U.S. Representative Maxine Waters announced the U.S. Treasury’s award of $1.25 billion in COVID-19 relief funds to 863 community development financial institutions (CDFIs) nationwide. Distributed via the Treasury’s CDFI Rapid Response Program (CDFI RRP), this funding will support CDFIs in their efforts to increase access to capital in communities hardest hit by the pandemic. Virginia Community Capital (VCC) is thrilled to announce …

Jackie Puente will govern and advise organization on mission, direction, and focus RICHMOND, Virginia — (March 31 , 2021) – Virginia Community Capital (VCC) announced today the election of Jackie Puente, Executive Director for External Affairs at Comcast Corp., to the board of directors. Puente will join 12 other directors, guiding the organization’s mission, direction, financial sustainability, and efforts to deepen impact. In her role at Comcast, Puente is responsible for engaging diverse stakeholders on …

Funds will provide capital and technical assistance to bolster diverse small businesses impacted by COVID-19   RICHMOND, VA – February 4, 2020 – Wells Fargo has selected Virginia Community Capital (VCC) to help underserved small businesses stay open and save jobs in Richmond. The $1.5 million in funding will aid the organization’s short- and long-term COVID-19 recovery efforts, technical assistance, and lending programs for diverse small business owners. The grant is part of Wells Fargo’s Open …

Jane Henderson announces her retirement after a 40-year career After four decades in the banking industry, Jane Henderson plans to retire this year as President and CEO of Virginia Community Capital (VCC). As the organization’s founding executive director, Henderson has led VCC since its inception in 2006. Her banking career includes 29 years spent in community development finance. VCC, a community development financial institution (CDFI), was born out of a $15 million investment and a vision …