Success Story from Foundation for Women

ilana — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:00:14 +0000

Meet Foundation for Women (FFW) microcredit borrower, Malou Gibson, who is now on her second FFW loan cycle with the Foundation for Women. Malou is a Holistic Health Care Practitioner who worked for various spas in San Diego by day and did computer work for hospitals at night, sneaking in a few hours of sleep here and there when she could. Malou emerged as a leader of the Spring Valley Microcredit Center early on, and was selected as a facilitator for the Foundation’s partnership with Cisco Entrepreneurial Institute, where she leads on-line computer literacy and business training classes. Currently on her second microcredit loan, Malou just opened the doors to her very own Spring Valley Health and Wellness Center called La Dolce Vita, where she will not only employ several other borrowers, but sell the merchandise of many more. According to Malou, “the microcredit loans and education I’ve received from the Foundation for Women gave me the chance to get back on my feet. I never imagined that I would someday be able to achieve my dream of owning my own business. I’m so happy to be able to help other women at the same time.”

Please visit La Dolce Vita, the Wellness Center at:

1445 Skyline Drive, Lemon Grove CA 91945

(858) 523-8064

La Dolce Vita

For more information about the Foundation for Women visit THEIR WEBSITE

Edited by Justine Darling, USD Graduate Student

Local Finance Helps Create Dr. Clark Store

travis — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:28:35 +0000

Purity means everything to Oskar Thorvaldsson because he wants his nutrition supplement products to have the maximum impact on his customers’ health.

“Most supplements have extra ingredients in them, flow agents, release agents, coatings and colors, which are not desirable to all consumers,” said Thovaldsson, owner of Dr. Clark Store.

Thorvaldsson buys fresh, high-quality ingredients from top raw-material distributors. He manufactures each product every four months to ensure high potency. Each capsule passes through a sophisticated metal detector.

“We pay attention to both potency and purity because it ensures maximum effectiveness for the consumer,” he said.

With Dr. Clark Store clicking along at 15% growth for several years, Thorvaldsson accelerated the company’s growth by buying his main supplier and manufacturing company. He tapped $200,000 in capital through San Diego Bankers Small Business CDC, managed by CDC Small Business Finance. The loan provided leverage to obtain additional capital from the San Diego Regional Revolving Loan Fund.

Thorvaldsson used the cash injection to purchase a 5,000 square-foot manufacturing/warehousing facility in Chula Vista, California and finance inventory.

“CDC and Susan Lamping (loan coordinator) worked in concert with the other lender and seller to keep the ball rolling,” he said. “They were instrumental in making it happen.”

CDC Small Business Finance is a partner of the San Diego Microfinance Alliance whose mission is to champion the growth of diverse small companies in our communities by drawing on our unparalleled expertise in delivering unique capital solutions. They provide loans to local business owners and start-ups that range from $10,000 to $2,000,000.

CDC offers fixed-rate, low down-payment, commercial real estate loans for the purchase of office and industrial buildings. CDC also offers an array of community loan programs focusing on women, minority and veteran-owned businesses – those small businesses that face the greatest obstacles to securing capital. Additionally, in 2005 CDC created the Direct Capital loan programs, which provide financing through Community Reinvestment Fund to help small businesses, including nonprofits, in qualified areas.

To learn more about CDC Small Business Finance Click Here

San Diego Micro-Finance » Health Product

Success Story from Foundation for Women

Local Finance Helps Create Dr. Clark Store