FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Krista Buckel
Krista.Buckel@cvky.org
859-231-0054 x1034
Kentucky SBA Selects Community Ventures as 2023 Microlender of the Year
Making it the 21st Consecutive Year the Organization Received the Award
LEXINGTON, KY. (January 2, 2024) – The Kentucky Small Business Administration (SBA) awarded the 2023 ‘Microlender of the Year’ award to non-profit Community Ventures’ (CV) for the organization’s dedication to helping entrepreneurs launch and grow small businesses across the Commonwealth. The award was presented to the non-profit in November at the 2023 Kentucky Small Business Lenders conference in Louisville.
Aspiring business owners seeking assistance from Community Ventures receive pre-and post-loan technical assistance and training to help them successfully launch and grow their businesses. From October 2022 to September 2023, Community Ventures business development specialist teams sourced 151 loans for clients, amounting to $1,430,266 and creating nearly 400 jobs. These programs are made possible by SBA funding.
“Supporting entrepreneurs as they launch a start-up or grow their existing business is our mission,” said Lew Whalen the Vice President of Lending at Community Ventures. “I am proud of the hardworking clients and our team and am grateful to the Kentucky SBA for this award and the funding they provide that makes it possible for us to support entrepreneurs across the Commonwealth.”
CV Business Development Specialist Pam Russell also received the 2023 SBA’s ‘Heavy Hitter’ for closing the most loans and her exemplary teamwork.
To learn more about business support offered by Community Ventures, contact Lew Whalen at (859) 231-0054 or lwhalen@cvky.org.
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About Community Ventures: Founded in 1982 as a community-based, non-profit organization, Community Ventures (CV) strengthens communities and improves the overall quality of life for Kentuckians by supporting job creation, small business ownership, and home ownership. CV is headquartered in Lexington with branch locations in Bowling Green, Campbellsville, Louisville, Mayfield, Millersburg, and Owensboro. For 21 consecutive years, CV has been named Microlender of the Year by the Kentucky Small Business Administration.