The Bay Area Racial Equity Fund: Looking Back at 0% Lending One Year Later | October 31, 2023 BayREF provided more than $2 million of 0% loans and free financial management advising to BIPOC-led nonprofits responding at the forefront of the pandemic. One year after the last loan closed, 100% of BayREF’s borrowers are current, and the default rate across the portfolio is 0%. We look forward to sharing our insights as we… Read More
Aedan Koji Kitchen- A space for nourishing food and community | June 2, 2022 Mariko Grady is the founder and owner of Aedan Koji Kitchen, which specializes in handcrafted fresh koji, an enzyme-rich ingredient that is the starter for food products like miso and amazake. In 2011, Mariko began selling her miso to raise funds for people who were impacted by the tsunami in Japan. The growing popularity of… Read More
Welcome Jonathan Taylor, Community Vision’s VP of Capital Solutions | December 16, 2021 We’re excited to welcome Jonathan Taylor to Community Vision as the Vice President of Capital Solutions. In this newly created position, Jonathan leads our recently re-envisioned Lending Department, which is now Capital Solutions. This department utilizes a restorative approach that intentionally directs capital to enterprises and projects that increase local wealth creation and power building… Read More
New Markets Tax Credits: Investing in Community Real Estate | November 15, 2021 Community Vision’s partnership with EOYDC began in 2012 when the organization was approaching their 35th Anniversary and developing a master plan that included renovation and a 6,000 square-foot expansion of their headquarters. Read More
California FreshWorks’ Social & Economic Impacts Report | September 23, 2021 The California FreshWorks’ Social and Economic Impacts 2018-2020 report, authored by Pacific Community Ventures, examines the development and implementation of California FreshWorks from 2018 through 2020. As administrators of FreshWorks, Community Vision took a community-centered approach to healthy food financing by listening to the ideas and solutions of local leaders who are working for an… Read More
Recent Lending & Consulting Clients | April 7, 2021 LENDING Baker Places Inc.- San Francisco $350,000 Line of Credit Baker Places is a transitional residential community of PRC. The line of credit helps to manage cash flow and bridge receivables from government contracts. Berkeley Food and Housing Project - Berkeley $225,000 Line of Credit Renewal Berkeley Food and Housing Project works to ease and end homelessness,… Read More
The Food Future is Here Podcast Series | February 12, 2021 Community Vision’s six-part podcast series “The Food Future is Here” is a powerful take on how the California FreshWorks community is changing the food system. The series, hosted by Leticia Corona, a small business advisor, and Ome Quetzal Lopez, a social commentator, centralizes the voices of BIPOC-owned small businesses and community-centered food system advocates. Together… Read More
Food for the People: Swift & Creative Responses Amidst COVID-19 | July 27, 2020 California’s food industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that consists of many different types of businesses and organizations that grow, process, and distribute food across the state, country, and around the world. Ownership across the food system has seen decades of corporate consolidation, resulting in negative social and economic impacts. From seeds to land ownership… Read More
BLVD MRKT: Investing in Healthy Food & Economic Development in Montebello | May 26, 2020 For more than a year and a half, Gentefy engaged the community, including connecting with local elected officials, business owners, and by hosting roundtable discussions. After connecting with more than 250 people of various ages and ethnic backgrounds, it became clear that the community wanted places to go that create an experience; something more than… Read More
Key Findings from California FreshWorks’ First Program Evaluation | March 6, 2020 Community Vision administers the California FreshWorks program, a statewide network of CDFI lenders that provide financing to food enterprises that invest in an equitable food system and increase access to affordable, healthy, culturally-appropriate food in underserved communities. We approach food access not only as a health issue, but also a community development and equity issue. Read More
