GSA Business | 06/28/2020 SBA names program director for Women’s Business Center
“The Small Business Administration has chosen Ana Parra to serve as program director of the SBA’s Women’s Business Center housed at CommunityWorks in Greenville. The SBA earlier this summer announced plans for two centers. The other is in Columbia.”
Upstate Business Journal | 07/14/2020 CommunityWorks selected to house Women’s Business Center
“CommunityWorks, a Small Business Administration approved lender, recently announced it was chosen by the SBA as one of two organizations in South Carolina to house a Women’s Business Center.”
GSA Business Viewpoint | 6/23/20 CDFI Leaders Call for Equality in Society’s Financial Structure
“As community advocates, Community Development Financial Institutions, and seekers of justice, we stand together through this moment of history not only to fight for capital for Black and brown business owners, and affordable housing and credit for low-income communities, but also equity and anti-racist policies and action.”
The Charleston City Paper | 4/29/20 Community finance CEOs: Small-scale lenders and borrowers can power local economies, especially in difficult times
“Where for-profit banks and traditional finance institutions won’t lend, we will. Between our three organizations, the largest CDFIs in South Carolina, we have funded hundreds of local small businesses, affordable housing developments, and community facilities.”
Greenville News | 4/27/20 Upstate businesses hopeful as feds infuse $320B into popular paycheck loan program
“The Greenville News spoke with three non-profit organizations — United Way of Pickens County, CommunityWorks in Greenville and the Chapman Cultural Arts Center in Spartanburg — as well as a small business — Elephant’s Trunk toy store on Augusta Road in Greenville – that did secure PPP loans.
The common denominator for success among them was having a long-standing relationship with their bankers.”
The Post and Courier | 4/19/20 SC nonprofits, vulnerable to downturns, face financial challenges from coronavirus crisis
“While it’s exciting nonprofits were included in the legislation, it’s been difficult for groups to actually take advantage, said Tammie Hoy-Hawkins, president at CommunityWorks, a Greenville-based community development organization.”
GSA Business | 04/03/20 COPING WITH COVID: CommunityWorks and Facez, GSA Business
“At CommunityWorks we have been working on loan modification for our existing borrowers. First step first. One, our staff is safe — so we work remote — and second is reaching out to our borrowers to see what position they are in and working with their business coach to look at modifying and deferring their payments over the next couple months,” Hoy-Hawkins said.
Greenville News | 04/02/20 Greenville’s self-employed workers fear delays in federal aid
“Hawkins said her organization’s financial coaches are actively reaching out to existing borrowers. CommunityWorks is offering a low-interest line of credit to support cash flow. It is also offering small consumer loans as a last resort recourse for those waiting on their $1,200 CARES Act checks.”
Greenville Business Magazine | 1/10/20 CommunityWorks Announces 10-Month Business Development Training Course And Grant Opportunity For S.C.Entrepreneurs
“CommunityWorks is currently enrolling entrepreneurs in Upstate, SC to participate in its first annual business development course called CommunityWorks Academy. The Academy is a ten-month training program designed to help business owners understand, properly manage, and grow their businesses from the start-up stage to the retirement stage.”
Greenville Journal | 04/08/2019 New CommunityWorks president sees opportunity for growth inside and outside Greenville
“And the nonprofit financial organization will continue to address the gap by providing affordable-housing loans, community loans, small-business loans and coaching, and banking services such as consumer loans and homebuyer assistance programs for people not served by traditional lenders, said Tammie Hoy-Hawkins, who will take the helm of CommunityWorks in January.”
Greenville Journal | 10/04/18 CommunityWorks merges with Self-Help to offer expanded services for unbanked and underbanked
“The combined strength of CommunityWorks and Self-Help will bring real depth to the Greenville area. This merger will bring additional products and services to CW members, while retaining the passion for service that made the organization so unique.”
Client Spotlights
The Elephnt Group | 04/09/20 Elephnt Group helps indie musicians create their own path
“A lot of independent artists were being taken advantage of, and I wanted to make sure I had the education and knowledge to build something I could use as a platform to make sure the independent artist is protected in the music industry.”
Dance Without Limits | 04/03/20 Greenville dance studio offers free virtual classes to keep kids moving during coronavirus outbreak
Dance Without Limits owner Beth Bradley is a native of Hendersonville and she says she is passionate about serving the community. “During this time, physical activity and connection are so important.”
