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Our Impact

The Impact We Seek to Create

At the Entrepreneur Fund, we believe small businesses have the power to transform their communities and region. Every day we partner with entrepreneurs to make that a reality.

1

Partnering with Small Business Owners to Achieve Their Goals.

It’s what we do best. Thriving small businesses are essential for individual, community, and regional prosperity.

“The Entrepreneur Fund has helped me to be a better business owner. I’m grateful to them and the U.S. SBA who helped me secure the loan to get started.” – Dr. Chiamaka Enemuoh, Owner of Lifestone Health Care and U.S. SBA’s Minnesota Minority Owned Small Business for 2020.

Lifestone Health Care | Proctor, MN

2

Increasing Access and Reducing Barriers to Entrepreneurship.

EF plays a pivotal role to economic justice and inclusion. We prioritize working with rural-based businesses, minority-owned firms, and women-owned businesses.

“The biggest thing that EF provided me with was encouragement. When I started to doubt myself they told me, ’You got this. You’re doing a good thing, and we believe in your business and what you’re doing.’” – April Westman, Owner of Aunty’s Child Care

Aunty’s Child Care | Duluth, MN

3

Driving Local Prosperity

EF partners with communities – entrepreneur communities, cultural communities, and physical communities – to provide direct support for the many types of businesses that are critical to community such as retail, restaurants, childcare, and access to healthcare.

“We want to make sure there is a quality job for every gift and talent of our wonderfully talented individuals that live in our area.” – Elizabeth Chapman, Co-Owner of Art Unlimited

Art Unlimited | Angora, MN

4

Bolstering Economic Growth & Diversity

Small businesses are the unsung heroes that often have the greatest economic impact. By helping them thrive we are diversifying our economy and creating quality jobs in our region.

Our Impact To Date

22,000 entrepreneurs served

$136 million in total lending

13k jobs created or sustained across the region

Past Impact Reports

2020 2019 2018 2017

The Latest

2022 Impact Snapshot: Evolving for Tomorrow

The past few years have required all of us to think, adapt and plan in new and innovative ways. Through every challenge, we’ve remained committed to our vision of building… Read more »

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EFund staff conference refocuses on mission and impact

In our Be Strategic program we often talk about taking time to “work on your business instead of in your business.” What that means is taking some time as business… Read more »

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EFund Recognized as Minnesota’s 2022 SBA Microlender of the Year

At the U.S. SBA Minnesota Lenders Conference on September 15, 2022, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Minnesota District recognized 11 lenders throughout the state for their commitment to helping… Read more »

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