|
Please
join me in congratulating Emily
Gasner
of TMC Development Working Solutions, who has been honored with the Financial
Services Champion of the Year Award
from the You
are invited to attend the award ceremony, which will be held from 6pm
to 8pm on Monday, May 12, 2008 at Emily
is a dedicated advocate for financial services, particularly for
microenterprises and small businesses with limited or no access to
traditional financing. To date, she has connected
microenterprises with $485,000 in microloans and small businesses with
$1.9 million in financing. Her clients include such businesses
as
Kris
Nations Jewels,
Kika's
Treats, To
Go Ware, Kick
Start SF, and The
Curiosity Shoppe. Emily
has provided countless hours of technical assistance to entrepreneurs
helping them create business plans and financial projections.
Over one thousand entrepreneurs have been educated about starting a
business and how to apply for a loan as a result of her participation
in business workshops around the Bay Area. Emily’s
passion for economic development is an inspiration. On behalf of
Working Solutions, we wish her continued success with her advocacy for
businesses in the community. Sincerely, Barbara
Morrison President,
Working Solutions |
Emily
Gasner Financial
Services Champion of the Year Award
Recipient 2008 |
TMC
Development Working Solutions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2008
Local Microlender Honored During Small
Business Week
Bay Area microenterprises thrive with
financial services from
TMC
Development Working Solutions
SAN
FRANCISCO, CA (May 7, 2008) -
The Small Business Administration’s San Francisco District Office
will honor local microlender Emily Gasner, Program Director of Working
Solutions, with its Financial Services Champion of the Year Award on
May 12, 2008 at
Ms. Gasner has connected
local microenterprises with $485,000 in microloans and small businesses with
$1.9 million in financing. One
client, Kika’s Treats owner Cristina Besher, says, “Emily has provided
invaluable support to help my organic baked goods company move to the next
level of growth through an affordable microloan and one-on-one financial
counseling.”
“I’ve never known
anyone as passionate about educating entrepreneurs, particularly low-income
individuals, women, and minorities, as Emily,” adds Barbara Morrison,
President of Working Solutions. “She
goes above and beyond offering microloans and coaches clients on business
planning, preparing financial statements, and credit repair to ensure they
have every tool they need to be successful.”
Working Solutions, a
nonprofit organization, created a microloan fund in 2005 to offer
entrepreneurs with limited or no access to conventional financing an
alternative option for loans of $5,000 to $25,000.
Wells Fargo, TMC Development, Comerica, and Citibank are a few of the
financial supporters of Working Solutions’ economic development activities
in the community.
“Wells Fargo’s investment in the Working Solutions Microloan Program is another example of our commitment to helping small businesses in our community succeed by creating opportunities to access capital they need,” said Brenda Wright, Wells Fargo’s SVP and Community Development Regional Director. “This is a very innovative program that provides an alternative source of financing for start-up businesses."
About Working Solutions
Working Solutions’
mission is to provide microloans, technical assistance, and educational
services to underserved microentrepreneurs starting or growing a business in
the Bay Area. To learn more visit www.tmcworkingsolutions.org
or call 415-477-8415.
About Small Business Week
Small Business Week
offers a week of workshops and events for entrepreneurs in
Emily Gasner Bio
Emily Gasner, age 33,
grew up in
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