Here is another report about a recipient of a Plymouth Community Investment loan, following the first such recent article in the July 5 Herald. This time I will tell you about Ventures, a local Seattle non-profit which encourages low-income entrepreneurs. Ventures provides “access to business training, capital, coaching, and hands-on learning opportunities. We serve those in our community for whom traditional business development services are out of reach, with a focus on women, people of color, immigrants, and individuals with low income. Our ultimate goal is to support individuals to increase their income potential, achieve long-term financial stability, provide for their families, and enrich their communities through small business ownership.”
Ventures has helped launch 2,565 businesses, helping 7,639 individuals, since its founding in 1995. Plymouth loans supporting them currently total $115,000. The Fiscal Committee takes seriously continually monitoring both the soundness of this investment (like all the funds in our Endowment Fund, to assure the Fund’s future), and the virtues and effectiveness of this recipient organization in making our community and our world a better place.
An exciting aspect about Ventures for each of us individually is, we don’t need to look any further than the Pike Place Market to see and buy products from some of Ventures’ supported businesses. The Ventures Marketplace Store (see photo above, with Ventures staff members, and here) is downstairs one flight below the fish vendor and the pig statue, in the Market. Visit soon! Other Ventures-supported local businesses include Queen Care at 23rd & Jackson, and Señor Carbon Peruvian Restaurant in Pioneer Square.
-Mark Sandstrom, Treasurer/Fiscal Committee Chair
(Other FC Members: Dorothy Mann, Kael Sherrard, Robin DeCook, Dave Koeger, Marcia Almquist, Al Bentley, and Robert Neer)