For 18 months, we’ve stood in the gap. The gap between making payroll and closing the doors. The gap between thriving and failing. The gap between dreams and reality.
TRUE ACCESS CAPITAL 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
True Access Capital borrower, Michelle Aurora, Founder of Aurora Academy of Hair Design
281
Total number of jobs created or retained
WOMENS BUSINESS CENTER AT TRUE ACCESS CAPITAL
The Women’s Business Center at True Access Capital (WBC) provides intensive business training and in-depth technical assistance and services to assist both women and men. The WBC provides trainings, events, and one-on-one counseling. WBC covers fundamental and higher level trainings to assist in starting or growing a business.
Our partnerships with the Small Business Association (SBA), Service Core of Retired Executives (SCORE) the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and State agencies provide additional resources to our clients.
WBC maintains a focus on ensuring entrepreneurs obtain the fundamentals of solid business development and finance through offering courses such as Passport to Business Success, Community UP! and Bookkeeping & QuickBooks for Small Business. Additional courses such as Be a Brand with a plan, Building a business culture, and Being legal in business help business owners strengthen their fundamentals and improve business effectiveness for long-term sustainability.
While trainings, events, and counseling opportunities have been virtual during the COVID-19 pandemic, we eagerly look forward to in-person opportunities for sharing and networking in the near future.
Here are some of our accomplishments in 2020:
- Continued working in underserved and disadvantaged areas to support emerging entrepreneurs throughout Delaware.
- Trained 1000 people, counseled 255, and hosted 84 trainings and events to educate our communities, small businesses and aspiring business owners.
- Assisted in helping secure $100,000 in COVID-19 Relief loans for small business owners.
- Led and curated our 4th Her Story, Our History event in celebration of Women’s History Month honoring 10 women in business and community changemakers.
- Created The H.E.R. Business Plan Competition in partnership with True Access Capital and Citizens Bank to secure capital for small businesses.
- Worked closely with The Association of Women’s Business Centers to bring national-level opportunities to small business owners in our coverage areas.
- Created an E-Commerce Program in partnership with PNC Bank, to assist in transitioning businesses to an online platform to engage their customers, increase visibility, and increase revenue.
- Created The Holiday Crawl an online virtual QVC Style platform for clients to engage new and old customers to sell and pitch theirs business and or products or services.
- Hosted financial literacy trainings on bookkeeping, COVID-19 relief funding, and business loan options.
- Hosted our 1st Virtual Connect Series Event due to COVID-19.
38%
of loans to women
PROUD TO BE STANDING IN THE GAP
In 2020, when small businesses were under attack by COVID-19 restrictions and a suffering national economy, we at true Access Capital felt like defenders “Standing in the Gap.”
That reference goes back to ancient times when only a wall protected ancient cities. Defenders would rush to any breach in the wall to stop the enemy until the gap could be repaired. If a breach was left unattended or unrepaired, a city could fall.
That’s why we at True Access Capital chose that phrase as our theme to this Annual Report. When COVID attacked and the restrictions stretched into months, so many businesses were suffering. Some couldn’t pay the rent or salaries, couldn’t afford to buy products and materials. They needed help urgently.
Providing a Buttress
As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), we provide small business loans from $10,000 to $500,000 and community development loans of up to $500,000.
During 2020, many of the small, BIPOC-owned businesses that TAC serves were not able to qualify for state and federal COVID rescue loans. These businesses – many of which were located in lower-income communities of color—were at risk of closing or suffering catastrophic financial losses.
In response, TAC conceptualized and implemented the Emergency Relief and Recovery Loan and Grant program that offered a low-interest loan up to $20,000 with interest and principal payments deferred for the first six to 12 months and an additional $5,000 grant when funds were available.
At the same time, we entered into a partnership with the Borough of Kennett Square to create the Kennett Square Community Relief Fund.
Concurrently we moved our training programs to a virtual model and stepped up to meet increased need for one-on-one counseling and technical assistance through phone meetings, emails and Zoom sessions.
Proud Community Supporter
In this report you will see more detail about these programs and you will read about businesses that were able to hold on with an assist from True Access Capital. Every one of these stories proves that even in a worldwide crisis, acting locally and strategically can underpin our economy and contribute in a meaningful way to local, small business success. We are proud to be of service to our community.
Sara A. Crawford, Program Director
The Women’s Business Center at True Access Capital
The past four years working with the eager entrepreneurial women of our community have been as enlightening for me as for those who came to the Women’s Business Center for guidance and education. I come from a family of entrepreneurs and I started out my professional life as a fashion designer who immediately found myself in the business school of hard knocks. I learned first-hand that becoming a successful entrepreneur is a journey of self-discovery, discipline, dedication, personal growth and getting up after a fall.
That lesson is why the WBC is dedicated to educating start-up business owners, providing continued mentoring, offering trainings and programs for the various stages of business ownership, and being there to aid and support when a situation or question arises.
COVID-19 forced us to discover new ways to continue our work in a virtual setting, to engage and interact over the internet. We look forward to returning to in-person events, trainings and networking events that equip aspiring business owners with the technical knowledge they need to be successful. We delight in being part of an exciting journey where people come to us with their ideas and goals, and we help develop the business strategies and plans to bring those ideas to fruition.
I am proud of the work we do. When I look around our community, I see businesses that were once on rocky footing, but now are thriving after completing our training sessions, receiving one-on-one counseling, or networking with other business owners at WBC events.
The impact we are able to bestow in communities has allowed business owners to provide for their families, create jobs, build economic development, and make dreams come true. I feel a tremendous sense of achievement in the strides we have made to keep moving the needle towards larger goals and impact. I am looking forward to continuing to walk in purpose and serve our clients and our communities.
Sincerely,
Sara A. Crawford, Program Director
Case Study 1
AURORA ACADEMY
OF HAIR DESIGN
Michelle Aurora, Founder
Imagine this scenario: You open a school because you have a passion for helping people learn a profession that they will love for the rest of their careers. Then a pandemic shuts down and limits your business for more than a year. Closing takes away more than your way to make a living, it takes away your reason for getting out of the bed in the morning. more >
“At one point, I didn’t think we were going to make it,” Michelle said. She turned to True Access Capital for a loan from the Small Business Relief and Recovery Fund for working capital to stay afloat.
74%
of loans to minority borrowers
Case Study 2
Jose turned to True Access Capital once again for a loan for working capital to rely on in the interim while prices stabilize.
Carniceria Camargo
Jose Pedro Camargo Rodriguez, Founder
Hard work pays dividends
Exactly 20 years ago, Jose Pedro Camargo Rodriguez came to America from Moroleon, Guanajuato, Mexico, spoke no English and brought only his dreams, energy and diligence. more >
Case Study 3
The Juice Joint
Renee Sellers and Lanice Wilson, Founders
Lanice Wilson credits her daughter for beginning the journey that ended with the Juice Joint at Wilmington’s Riverfront. It began with a visit to her daughter in California – the epicenter of natural and whole food eating — some six years ago. Intrigues, Lanice tried a fresh juice for breakfast one day and became a convert to healthy eating. more >
“We relied heavily on the expertise True Access Capital offered, even after the loan was complete. They offer a huge support system, and we really appreciate it.”
47%
of loans to low-income borrowers
Case Study 4
“I liked working with them. They made the application process easy. I worked with Lorenzo who is smart and helpful,” Aaron said. “He worked with me in the Spanish language and helped me understand everything,”
La Palma Contractors
Aaron La Palma, Founder
Twenty-five years in the contracting business hasn’t diminished Aaron Luna Nava’s commitment to excellence and the values of integrity, professionalism and diligence in residential and commercial home improvement and construction. That commitment, combined with hard work and attention to detail led to La Palma developing a reputation as the area’s go-to construction company. more >
Case Study 5
Parker Restoration and Construction, Inc.
Michael Parker, Founder
An important part of planning for a business is to identify the specific market you will serve within your industry. Michael Parker understood that he had a lot of competition in general construction and ultimately carved out a niche for which he is now a recognized expert. more >
“I really liked working with True Access,” said Michael. “I like the way they look out for the smaller business owner. The staff is friendly and thorough in helping you fill out all the documents.”
Case Study 6
“True Access was very easy to work with. They were very nice and they spoke fluent Spanish, which made it much easier for us to understand the technical details,”
Peruchos
Jose Elera, Founder
“We specialize in chicken – like (that well-known chicken) Market but with flavor. Peruvian Flavor.” That’s how Jose Elera describes Peruchos’ signature dish, one of the many tasty Peruvian dishes on the menu at his family-business restaurant on Rt. 40 in Bear, DE. more >
Case Study 7
Portabellos of Kennett Square
Sandra Morris and Chef Brett Hulbert, Founders
Combine the expertise of a successful real estate career and the experience from 30 years of acclaimed professional cooking and kitchen management, and you have just the team to create a beautiful, successful restaurant in the perfect location, location, location. more >
Sandra and Brett received a small loan from True Access Capital’s Kennett Square Community Relief Fund for working capital to supplement the income they were able to generate during COVID.
Case Study 8
Dmitry needed a loan for start-up capital, and after contacting three banks, he realized he needed a funder that would take a calculated risk on a startup. True Access Capital was that lender.
SEED Eatery
Yauhen Yurhelevich and Dmitry Gorin, Founder
Under perfect circumstances, opening a start-up business is a level of risk that many people just can’t tolerate. Among start-up categories, a restaurant is one of the riskiest. more >
Financials
True Access Capital Statement of Financial Position
| ASSETS | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | $3,286,568 | $1,659,686 |
| Restricted Cash | 2,835,721 | 2,895,277 |
| Investments | 48,515 | 48,467 |
| Grants Receivable, Net | 140,051 | 199,496 |
| Miscellaneous Receivable | 24,161 | 25,545 |
| Accrued Interest Receivable | 168,019 | 65,760 |
| Prepaid Expenses | 54,446 | 34,792 |
| Servicing Asset | 38,371 | 57,289 |
| Loans Receivable, Net | 7,503,994 | 6,131,427 |
| Equity in Investment - Related Party | 258,393 | 257,201 |
| Security Deposit | 1,427 | 1,427 |
| Property and Equipment, Net | 184,898 | 191,475 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | $14,544,564 | $11,567,842 |
| LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts Payable | $29,633 | $44,547 |
| Accrued Expenses | 21,532 | 20,479 |
| Deferred Revenue | 1,899 | - |
| Compensated Absences | 57,997 | 41,529 |
| Loan Escrow | 18,245 | 16,555 |
| Participation Balance Due to DEDA | 62,432 | 62,432 |
| Paycheck Protection Program Loan - Conditional Grant | 159,275 | - |
| Loans Payable, Net | 8,728,041 | 7,660,311 |
| Bonds Payable | 500,000 | - |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | 9,579,054 | 7,845,853 |
| NET ASSETS | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Without Donor Restrictions | 2,128,093 | 1,517,345 |
| With Donor Restrictions | 2,837,417 | 2,204,644 |
| TOTAL NET ASSETS | 4,965,510 | 3,721,989 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS | 14,544,564 | 11,567,842 |
Investors & Contributors
Investors
Artisans’ Bank
Barclays Bank of Delaware
Borough of Kennett
Catholic Health Initiatives
Citizens Bank
Customers Bank
Delaware Community Foundation
First Unitarian Church of Wilmington
Google
HSBC Bank USA, N.A.
M&T Bank
Northern Trust
Opportunity Finance Network
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
TD Bank, N.A.
USDA — Rural Development
U.S. Small Business Administration
WSFS Bank
Individual Contributors
Paul Altman
Peter Calder
Gloria Diodato
Vandell Hampton, Jr.
Deborah Harrison
Jimmy Jarrell
Daniel Kempski
Jonathon Klass
Greg Ladner
Delores Lee
Phyllis McCollum
Keith Pettiford
J. Pratt-Fields
Clinton & Mary Robertson
Clinton Tymes
Azeez Weeks
Barb Willis
Neil Wright
Contributors
Artisans’ Bank
Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Barclays
Barnes & Thornburg
Capital One
Citi Foundation
Citizens Bank
City of Wilmington
Comenity Bank
Community Development Financial Institution
Customers Bank
Delmarva Power
Discover Bank
Economic Development Administration
Google
HSBC Bank USA, N.A.
JPMorgan Chase Foundation
Losco & Marconi
M&T Bank
Meridian Bank
Opportunity Finance Network
PNC Bank
Santander Bank
TD Bank, N.A.
USDA - Rural Development
U. S. Small Business Administration
Wells Fargo Foundation
WSFS
