May 2020
Dear Friends:

As the pandemic continues to occupy our personal and professional lives, LISC San Diego’s mission of serving communities and businesses in need of assistance, has accelerated.

Last month, LISC successfully generated substantial grants for small businesses, along with relief funding for the local nonprofit agencies we serve, from organizations such as:

  • Verizon, $7.5 million
  • Sam’s Club, $1 million
  • U.S. Bank, $500,000

Driven by our spirit of hope and caring, we’re dedicated to doing everything within our means to help support those in financial distress.

With Small Business week falling on the first week of this month, May 3rd - 6th, we vow to do our part -- and more -- to ease the impact, anxiety, and obstacles that derive from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sincerely,
Ricardo Flores
Executive Director
Updates
Economic Development: #INCityHeights
LISC San Diego has been working to uplift the small businesses in City Heights for many years.

Part of this work involves funding organizations that can help small businesses expand their visibility and connect with community members.

Recently, LISC San Diego provided HUD Section 4 funding to Media Arts Center to document and share stories of how City Height's small businesses are coping with the impacts of COVID-19 and how the community can continue to support them.

We encourage you to check out these videos on the #INCityHeights Facebook page, and share these stories with your colleagues, partners, and friends.
LISC Loans
Project: La Maestra Community Clinic

Description : Federally Qualified Community Health Clinic (36,440 Sq Feet)

LISC San Diego loan amount: $995,220

Completion: 2005

Highlights:
  • La Maestra Community Health Centers is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) and a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)
  • For the past 24 years, LMCHC has provided culturally and linguistically competent primary care, specialty services including behavioral and mental health, chronic disease management and essential support services to men, women and children in San Diego’s most culturally diverse and lowest income communities. 
News from National
LISC + Sams Club
On April 22 , LISC announced a partnership with Sam’s Club , which will provide $1 Million to support small businesses through programs and direct grants for small businesses.

Thanks to the $1 million grant , LISC will provide the emergency assistance that small businesses desperately need to stay afloat.

LISC will deploy grants to help them bridge the financial gap, and deliver technical assistance to help them navigate the intricate web of public and private resources now available. LISC will focus these efforts on historically under-served communities—especially those enterprises owned or led by women, minorities and veterans, which often lack access to affordable capital .
Verizon Brings COVID-19 Small Business Support Up to $7.5M with New Grant to LISC
As part of its partnership with LISC to provide grants to small businesses in historically under-served communities,

Verizon has added another $2.5 million to their Small Business Recovery Fund , bringing the program total to $7.5 million . That means some 750 entrepreneurs across the country will have resources to keep their businesses, their employees and their communities going through the pandemic and beyond.
LISC AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps Members of the Month
A Few Minutes with...
Julie Hattler
Wakeland Housing & Development
Project Manager

As project manager for Wakeland Housing & Development, Julie Hattler describes herself as “a jack of all trades.”

In her multi-faceted role, she oversees the step-by-step process of Wakeland’s affording housing projects, from the earliest stages of feasibility to lease-up, completion and tenant move-in.

One of her current projects is Cuatro at City Heights, a $50 million, 114-unit mixed use development in City Heights on four parcels. With a hoped-for completion date of 2023, the ambitious project will breathe life into the long-dormant properties, three of which are adjacent to I-15 and University Avenue.

LISC San Diego provided early-phase funding for the project, with an initial $2 million investment from U.S. Bank.

Julie joined Wakeland a year ago, bringing her three decades of experience in construction/real estate accounting, finance and asset management, with 11 years in affordable housing as a manager and executive.

Previously, she had spent some five years with San Diego-based Affirmed Housing Group, moving up to chief financial officer shortly after her initial hiring as controller.
As she says, “I’ve always enjoyed helping people and I’m grateful that I’m in a position to help others.”