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15th
August
2016
Sacramento, CA

#CDFIstory: From Inspired to Entrepreneur

August 15, 2016

Client: Maria Harrington, founder of Casa de Español

Client Location: Sacramento, CA

CDFI: CDC Small Business Finance

CDFI Services Provided: 

Financing

Financial and Social Impact

  • Jobs created: estimated 4 new positions
A group of business people standing in a row and smiling while looking at the camera.

Maria Harrington opened Casa de Español in downtown Sacramento in 2011 to pay homage to her Mexican heritage. The school, which offers Spanish classes to children and adults soon outgrew its original space. Harrington found a new location, which would allow her to add a Spanish immersion preschool, an after-school program, and a weekend center for children; a library with Spanish-language books; a new outdoor location for meetups; and continue to grow the school’s expanding enrollment.

She turned to CDC Small Business Finance which helped her secure a $64,000 Small Business Administration (SBA) Community Advantage loan.

With the expansion comes new jobs, and Harrington estimates she will hire four additional staff.

Tags: Affordable Housing, Arts, Childcare, Cooperative, Education, Green or Climate Finance, Healthy Foods, New Markets Tax Credit, Placemaking, Small Business, Technical Assistance, Urban

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