The Chamber Fund ensures that the growing Upstate LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce network has access to sustainable lending to get businesses off the ground, into their next phase of growth, or to the pinnacle of their vision.  The bones of true empowerment for any community are economic autonomy and reliable financial access. Where the money flows, so does the business growth, and the reality is that small LGBT+ businesses have limited access to traditional funding methods.

While the bulk of GDP growth in this country is generated by small businesses, the current loan structure through the SBA requires so much collateral that the loans are very much out of reach for most (truly) small borrowers. The current financial systems favor the “haves” and we must find new methods to give all folks a leg up. Direct finance is a critical aspect of that boost, making this the root factor to create sustained, viable growth for the LGBT+ and allied business community in the Upstate. Networks, which we’ve built through the LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, are critical to the community, but substantial financial support is transformative, and currently largely missing.

The Chamber Fund will provide direct lending, partnering with Community Works, to give folks exactly what they need to get where they’re going. Our partnership with Community Works will be able to provide loans of all sorts with special training and programs to help navigate the lending system while building stronger businesses This direct lending will not only seed current growth, but build the credit history, collateral and business history necessary to eventually grow into more traditional lending structures.

The Chamber Fund goal for 2023 is to unlock $500,000 in lending through our partnership with Community Works. Over the next 5 years, we’d like to grow that to $5 million in annual lending and with your help we’ll get there.