Grantee Spotlight: Foundation of Little Village
According to the Small Business Administration, there are an estimated 4.65 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S., making this the fastest-growing segment of small businesses in the country. We are excited to spotlight one of our grantees working hard to support these business leaders of the future: Foundation of Little Village (FLV).
Formerly known as The Little Village Community Foundation, Foundation of Little Village took on a brand new look and location in 2022. The organization’s new name is an opportunity to strengthen their identity to better align with the Little Village community and its service offerings. They offer three bilingual entrepreneurship programs centering around starting a business, growing a business and seeking capital to advance a business. The new office located at 2501 S. Trumbull provides more room for the expanding staff and a large outdoor event space to host community gatherings.
In addition to its new name and location, FLV has also released its first ever Annual Report entitled Foundation of Little Village: Delivering Our Promise, which serves as “a testament to and celebration of the hard work of our team,” according to Executive Director Kim Close. The report highlights success stories and accomplishments of the organization’s program participants, such as Anita Rodriquez. Anita enrolled in several of FLV’s courses which helped her realize her dream of creating and sustaining her own bakery.
FLV has also invested in the community’s financial capital by awarding $745,000 to neighborhood business owners through 255 micro-grants, delivering direct assistance to businesses struggling with rent, payroll and other critical needs as a result of the pandemic.
