Kiva Partners With Visa To Expand Micro-Loans To U.S. Small Businesses

[Guest]

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[JohnAtKiva]

This TechCrunch article just went live announcing a new partnership supported by a $1 million contribution from Visa:

Kiva Partners With Visa To Expand Micro-Loans To U.S. Small Businesses
http://tcrn.ch/buWjRC

In addition to the partnership, Kiva is expanding its pilot to include a new Field Partner in the Gulf Coast: ACCION Texas-Louisiana.  This new partner includes many entrepreneurs who have been affected by disasters in the region over the past five years.

I'll post a link to the blog and press release when they go live in the morning!  In the meantime, here's a preview of part of the release:

The Kiva Visa partnership will focus on expanding this model to better serve small businesses within the United States, including building the awareness, understanding and availability of microloans. Initiatives within the partnership include: a collaborative effort to drive awareness and understanding of microfinance for small businesses, building the features and capacity of Kiva’s microlending platform to increase capacity to support U.S. small businesses and a joint study to address gaps in research in the marketplace of microfinance in the U.S.

Best,
John

[alan]

Wow!  Roughly $200,000 worth of US loans hit the site this morning. Helping people in the Gulf Coast area makes some obvious sense. Here's wishing them all every success.

[JohnAtKiva]

I'll post a link to the blog and press release when they go live in the morning!

Here's the blog post:
http://www.kiva.org/blog/2010/10/20/kivaorg-and-visa-partner-to-expand.html

And the release:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/kivaorg-and-visa-partner-to-expand-microloan-opportunities-for-us-small-business-2010-10-20-81540

Helping people in the Gulf Coast area makes some obvious sense. Here's wishing them all every success.

Thanks Alan.  We're excited to be able to lend to entrepreneurs in this hard hit region.  I just put the last $25 into this loan to Bernard:
http://www.kiva.org/lend/240241

[RichardF]

I'm in!!!

Let the marketing (and shopping) begin!!!

[Alaska Pack]

They left out the best part of this loan on the Kiva Blog.

Bernard Mcgraw

http://www.kiva.org/lend/240241

In addition to going to school and managing his restaurant, Bernard still makes time to give back. Five years ago, he started a program called “Gumbo Under the Bridge” feeding homeless people. He says, “After being homeless, you never judge a homeless person again.” Last year, he also started a job-start program that he participated in at his own high school where students work at large companies and learn how to fill out job applications and to dress and act in a professional manner.




Bernice  

[AccountAbility]

This loan renews my interest in US loans.  I'm in. 

Will VISA's partnership make it easier to use credit cards directly to KIVA?  (How about withdrawals directly to credit cards without PayPal.)

Dan

(Incidentally, I can't find the thread that discussed the reverse switchback login--or whatever you want to call it-- but I loaned to this borrower and then got the screen to log in.   That same screen with the returning lender logins on the right and new members on the left was then followed by the login on the left for existing lenders.  I thought that whole thing was fixed.  Sorry for posting this here.)

[Skimmis]

http://www.kiva.org/lend/240233

"Even though Jacqueline is a full-time employee and works on this website during her spare time, she still finds time to give back. She volunteers for the Texas’ Next Top Designer event by making fliers and finding sponsors. Jaqueline says, “My life is a little more stressful because I have no idea where this business will go in the future, but it's exciting and it's something I love to do for fun! It doesn’t even feel like work.”"

[Alaska Pack]

This is good time to post the larger US loans while there is a smaller number of loans available so that other loans are less likely to go unfunded.  With quite a few US loans posted today, aside from the ones already mentioned, the following are a few with interesting stories attached.

Noelia Gutierez

http://www.kiva.org/lend/238802
She gives back by doing free tax returns for field workers who cannot afford her services.

Diondra Yancy

http://www.kiva.org/lend/238803

Not only is Diondra a single mother of two daughters, she is working closely with non-profit organizations on offering her services to homeless women to help them look presentable for job interviews.

Kelvin Rutherford

http://www.kiva.org/lend/240702

Seeing an opportunity to move into the “green” building sector, Kelvin changed his business model to installing solar panels and distributing prefabricated low-cost homes made from structure insulated panels.
Kelvin hopes to win the bid by setting up a hurricane-resistant model home that is capable of withstanding winds of up to 200 mph, category 9 earthquakes, as well as fire and termite damage.

John Aguilar

http://www.kiva.org/lend/240682

When people from the Louisiana coast line evacuated to San Antonio during Hurricane Katrina, Eddie contributed to this cause by repairing their vehicles for free. He even repaired a Saints football player’s car free of charge and did not know who he was until #93 came back with free tickets.

Bernice 

[Skimmis]

and the loans are even interest free! 

 Interest & Fees are Charged:    No (

[Alaska Pack]

For those of you interested in Bernard Mcgraw

http://www.kiva.org/lend/240241

 

I ran across the following links when I looked him up on Google to see if my friend in San Antonio could patronize his restaurant.

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/39/430174/restaurant/South-Side/Bernards-Creole-Kitchen-San-Antonio

http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Katrina-survivor-opens-Cajun-eatery-at-local-976570.php

Bernice