Skip to main content

Micro Enterprise Summit Keynote speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Bernake


Goal of Micro-enterprise: Offer small loans to people so they can increase their income and promote self employment.

Theme: Development of ME development in the US

Goals:
  • expand opportunities and community economic development
  • more flexible terms than banks
In US credit is only one part
    • education and training are important part
      • improves survival rate / credit repayment
      • laws are regulations are significant here, more so than the informal setting outside of the US
      • There are alternative sources for credit in US
      • Lending is not essential to the broader mission of starting businesses
  • Huge benefit to families and communities
Small business = less than 500 employees.
Micro business= less than 5

ME programs are about more than the extension of credit... mentoring / networking / training / sales programs / connections to banks, colleges... Offers borrowers technical support thereby helping sucess rates.

Can ME programs become self sustaining?

  • Income from check cashing and remittances
  • Reduced costs through technology
  • Partnerships with mainstream banks. Partnership helps mainstream institutions gain new customers.
Affirms role ME programs have in starting successful businesses and how vital they are to individuals and the economy.

Comments

  1. Anonymous11:34 AM

    This is awesome stuff J. Keep it coming!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

YWAMers Praised for Faith and Leadership

The Denver Post reports on the memorial service at the Denver YWAM base: "We're going to celebrate a life, we're not accentuating a death," said Faith Bible Chapel pastor George Morrison, in opening a memorial service today for two people killed at a missionary training school in Arvada . The service is called "A Celebration of Life for Tiffany and Philip." Philip Crouse and Tiffany Johnson died Sunday when a gunman opened fire at the school's dormitory. Youth With a Mission director Peter Warren said today both Crouse and Johnson embodied the spirit of the group. First the service focused on Crouse . "Phil gave his life to Jesus Christ and was never the same again," said Zach, a friend of Johnson's who met him years ago at a youth ministry in Alaska. At the time, Crouse was tough and wouldn't let people get close to him. "Over the years, Phil became a humble, teachable, sweet guy" who was able to reach kids with rough e

Non Profit Payday Loans?

Here's a recent New York Times article sent to me from Katie at NCHM on payday lending. I know that the NCUD / CTCU-EPA partnership is going to have to create the right program addressing the needs for short term lending for low income families. We don't have the answers yet, but it's definitely on our radar. APPLETON, Wis. — This city of 70,000 has five McDonald’s franchises, three Pizza Huts, four Starbucks shops — and 19 payday loan stores, brightly lighted storefronts with names like EZ Money and Check Into Cash that offer two-week loans without credit checks. Peggy Truckey, 53, knows the allure. Last year she owed nearly $1,300 to four of those stores, and was paying about $600 a month in finance fees alone. “I thought I was going to have to take a second job just to pay off the interest,” Ms. Truckey said. Then she heard about a new nonprofit program operated out of a Goodwill thrift store, one of several hundred lower-cost payday loan products that are now bein

Samuel Liotti TV Interview about Obama's Nomination

Check this out this link! Samuel, his best friend Malik and other students at East Palo Alto Academy were interviewed on TV  where they were asked about their views on Obama.  The students has some interesting and revealing comments. With all the politics, it may be easy for some to overlook the significance and importance of the first truly viable African-American candidate for president. Obama's nomination to especially many young people in our community speaks volumes about who they are and what they can become. This is an exciting and important time in our history.  Please join me in praying for both our candidates, but especially Obama. I've felt impressed that I should pray specifically for his safety during the next months.  Follow the link and check out the interview! What about you? How significant do you feel is Obama's nomination?