LATINO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

LEDC'S SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL COACHING AND FINANCING OPTIONS TAILORED FOR LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME ENTREPRENEURS AND EXISTING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ACROSS DC, MD, VA, AND PUERTO RICO. OUR DEDICATED SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAM DELIVERS A COMPREHENSIVE SUITE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING GROUP WORKSHOPS, COHORT-BASED LEARNING, AND ONE-ON-ONE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS FROM BUSINESS PLANNING AND LICENSING TO ESTABLISHING AN ONLINE PRESENCE, SALES STRATEGIES, ACCOUNTING FUNDAMENTALS, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, AND LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY TO BOOST PRODUCTIVITY. OUR SMALL BUSINESS TEAM PROVIDES SMALL BUSINESS AND CONSUMER LOANS PROVIDES FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH INTEREST-FREE CREDIT-BUILDING LOANS RANGING FROM $500 TO $2,500 AND SMALL BUSINESS LOANS UP TO $250,000. LEDC IS A US TREASURY CERTIFIED CDFI (2003), AN SBA MICROLENDING INTERMEDIARY, AN SBA COMMUNITY ADVANTAGE LENDER, A USDA RURAL LENDING INTERMEDIARY, AND AN SBA PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM LENDER.THE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO EMPOWER BUSINESSES AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR GROWTH. ADDITIONALLY, WE OFFER SPECIALIZED SUPPORT FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS, FEATURING COHORT-BASED TRAINING, MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, AND ACCESS TO SEED CAPITAL. FOR BUSINESSES IN GENTRIFYING AREAS, LEDC SUBSIDIZES SPECIALIZED CONSULTING SERVICES, INCLUDING LEASE NEGOTIATION ADVICE.

LEDC'S HOUSING DEPARTMENT OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES IN HOME PURCHASING COUNSELING, FORECLOSURE PREVENTION, TENANT SERVICES AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION, FOCUSING ON AIDING LOW TO MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES AND RENTERS. BY PROVIDING EDUCATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CASE MANAGEMENTTENANT ORGANIZING, AND ADVOCACY, LEDC EMPOWERS RENTERS TO FORM TENANT ASSOCIATIONS, UTILIZING DC'S TENANT RIGHTS TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT AND ENSURE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF COOPERATIVE HOUSING MODELS. COLLABORATING WITH 66 BUILDINGS AND TENANT ASSOCIATIONS, ENCOMPASSING OVER 4,143 UNITS, LEDC LEVERAGES LAWS LIKE THE TENANT OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE ACT (TOPA) TO MAINTAIN HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND IMPROVE CONDITIONS. AS A HUD-CERTIFIED COUNSELING AGENCY, OUR HOUSING COUNSELORS GUIDE PROSPECTIVE FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS THROUGH THE PURCHASING PROCESS, HELPING THEM ACCESS DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE, WHILE ALSO OFFERING SUPPORT TO HOMEOWNERS FACING FORECLOSURE TO FIND THE BEST LONG-TERM HOUSING SOLUTIONS. ADHERING TO NATIONAL INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP EDUCATION AND COUNSELING, LEDC SUCCESSFULLY TRAINED 2,267 FAMILIES IN FY2023, PROVIDED IN-DEPTH COUNSELING TO 721 FAMILIES, AND ASSISTED 193 INDIVIDUALS/FAMILIES IN BECOMING INFORMED FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS. THROUGH OUR HOMEOWNERSHIP COUNSELING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVATION/TENANT ORGANIZING PROGRAMS, LEDC IS DEDICATED TO SECURING AND ENHANCING THE ESSENTIAL ASSET OF HOUSING FOR OUR CLIENTS, ENSURING THEY ARE WELL-EQUIPPED TO PURCHASE THEIR FIRST HOME OR PRESERVE THEIR CURRENT HOUSING AS AFFORDABLE, AND HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HOUSING POLICY DECISIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.