April 2024, Issue 11

Things we can do for you:

Our goal is to serve small business owners not eligible for traditional banking systems by offering access to capital and financial how-to assistance. Whether we assist you in skill or knowledge, loans, or other financial aid, McCIF can help your small business grow and prosper.

McCIF can provide loans for the following:

Working Capital

Equipment Purchase/Repair

Vehicle Purchase/Repair

Inventory Purchase

Refinance Existing Debt

Real Estate Purchase or Refinance

Click here to inquire about a loan

Educate Yourself

Information Buffet

Our monthly Information Buffet Program provides business development training on a variety of topics relevant to small business owners to help them manage and grow their business. Here's what to expect:

- A FREE, delicious lunch

- A chance to network with other business owners

- An educational workshop designed to help you gain new business knowledge and skills

- A Q&A session with our expert guest speakers

Below are our next Information Buffet Programs:

April 5^th from 12-1 PM at StartUp Waco – “Business Finance: How to Know If Your Business is Making Money” led by Cooper Dukette, Manager of Land Acquisition, MileStone Community Builders, LLC

May 3rd from 12-1 PM at StartUp Waco – “Bookkeeping for Small Businesses - Part 2” led by Krystal Rodriguez, Owner, Reign Bookkeeping

Click the link below for more info.

More Info

Information Buffet Survey

McLennan Community Investment Fund needs your input to tailor our upcoming Business Development Training Program curriculum to meet your needs. Please answer this short, 3-question survey to tell us more about which business training topics you wish to learn more about AND when you are available to attend our training workshops.

Fill Out Our Survey

"Check out the 2024 Oscar-Nominated Documentary Short entitled THE BARBER OF LITTLE ROCK if you want to know more about an established Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and how CDFIs are providing access to small business loans for underserved communities that lack access to traditional banking systems."

Additional Resources

We are delighted to highlight free business development training resources for our community in our monthly newsletter. These free online workshops are offered by reputable organizations, such as SCORE, SBDC, and Google.

Please see below for a list of upcoming free online workshops that offer the knowledge you need to help you grow and maintain your business:

Tips For Grant Writing For Nonprofit Organizations

April 1, 2024, 10:00 AM CDT

Learn Tips About Grant Writing For Nonprofit Organizations.

How to Write a Business Plan - Your Roadmap to Success

April 4, 2024, 12:00 PM

A business plan serves as a roadmap for your business venture. In this webinar, you learn the key elements of a business plan and why it's important.

How to Manage Your Debt - Strategies for Financial Health and Growth

April 11, 2024, 12:00 PM

In this webinar, we will provide you with practical tips, strategies and best practices for handling small business debt.

A Basic QuickBooks Guide for Small Business Owners

April 16, 2024, 12:00 PM

Learn how you can use QuickBooks to streamline your financial management, track cash flow, build reports and create invoices.

Summer Hiring - Compliance Considerations and Tips for Success

April 18, 2024, 12:00 PM

Learn the fundamentals of hiring a seasonal worker and the strategies to hire the right employee while complying with regulations.

The People Behind McCIF

John Alexander

Board Vice President

John Alexander brings over 30 years of experience working with nonprofits. He graduated from Texas A&M in 1986 with a degree in Recreation and Parks. John began his career in nonprofits as a full-time volunteer with Habitat for Humanity International. John has worked with the following nonprofits:

Habitat for Humanity International in 1987
Mennonite Central Committee
Executive Director of Waco Habitat for Humanity from 1998-2013
Accessibility Inspector from 2013 to 2019
Returned to Waco Habitat in 2019

Before moving to Waco, John volunteered in Nicaragua for 3 years. He then moved to Waco, where he has been living and working in the McCIF investment area ever since.

Learn more about John

Jocelyn Williams

Board Secretary

Jocelyn Williams is the Center of Business Excellence Coordinator for the Centex African American Chamber of Commerce. As coordinator, her focus is centered around supporting and promoting Waco McLennan County small minority businesses. This is done through getting to know the local business owners and their needs and hopes for their businesses, providing resources and programming such as marketing strategy workshops and social media best practices, and supporting business growth by providing information about vendor and event opportunities as well as grants and loans.

Learn more about Jocelyn

Thank You to Our Sponsors

The Honorable George Allen and Mrs. Jane Allen

Mr. John Alexander

Mr. Ralph Curton

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

-Nelson Mandela

Connect with us!

www.mccif.org