Small Business Center
Our Business Specialists (Loan Officers) provide assistance to clients at every step of the lending process, from identifying potential immigrant entrepreneurs, to assisting them in the preparation of the loan package, to providing ongoing technical assistance once the loan has been made to assure the success of the new business. These activities not only build capacity for our clients, they also mitigate risk for our lending arm, the IICDC.

Clients also benefit through our partnership with the St. Louis County Economic Council and its business incubator, the South County Enterprise Center. The Enterprise Center has space for our staff to meet with clients and a small computer lab.

To date, all small business services have been provided one-on-one by staff or volunteers. Staff services are augmented by a pool of professional volunteers used both for scheduled classes and on an as needed basis for their skills and expertise in various areas of small business development. The program has active volunteers representing the fields of law, accounting, insurance, real estate, information technology, marketing and advertising, graphic design, and general business consulting.

We do not charge a fee for development Services other than a $25 program enrollment fee. Services are presently underwritten by a combination of public and private funding including a grant from the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the US Department of Health and Human Services and the proceeds of a Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Neighborhood Builders Award from Bank of America.

Contact Information:

Julie Mauchenheimer
314-773-9090, ext.135

Nha Nguyen
314-773-9090, ext.133