Kiva City Milwaukee Fuels Economic Growth through Entrepreneurship
A year-long effort to bring Kiva Zip micro-lending to small businesses in Milwaukee has resulted in Milwaukee being named a “Kiva City.” The designation, first proposed by Mayor Tom Barrett at his 2014 State of the City address, was announced at a City Hall news conference on Feb. 17, 2015 and was cheered at a community celebration later that day. Milwaukee is the 11th city nationwide to gain the designation.
Kiva Zip loans are crowd-funded, meaning they are aggregated from small loans made by many individuals through Kiva’s website. Individuals can lend as little as $5 to a small business. Kiva Zip borrowers are typically entrepreneurs who cannot qualify for more conventional business financing. Most lenders are endorsed by a “trustee,” a local organization or individual who can attest to the character of the borrower. To date, nearly 20 Milwaukee trustees have signed on to endorse local loans.
In the News
October 4, 2017 - Velobahn Coffee & Cycle opens in Milwaukee’s Silver City neighborhood
December 15, 2016 - North Side entrepreneurs pitch ideas at St. Ann Center business incubator
August 11, 2016 - How Kiva has affected local Milwaukee businesses
January 23, 2016 - Milwaukee man not only bakes pies, he gives back to community
January 4, 2016 - Turning Milwaukee's Food Waste Into 'Black Gold,' aka Compost
December 10, 2015 - Kiva Zip: Micro-Loans for Milwaukee
December 2, 2015 - Kiva co-founder talks micro lending at WWBIC event: Slideshow
April 23, 2015 - Kiva Already Funding City Entrepreneurs
April 2015 - Rock Paper Scissors Shakes Up Milwaukee Street with Local Art & Gifts
March 9, 2015 - Fallback career gives rise to Mr. Dye's Pies
January 23, 2015 - Kiva set to launch in Milwaukee next month
October 4, 2014 - Micro-business lender Kiva eyes Milwaukee
February 24, 2014 - Milwaukee could become a 'Kiva City' — what that means, and who it benefits
