The Center by Lendistry — 2025 Impact Report

Summary

The Center by Lendistry 2025 Impact Report, a 15-page report with a message from President & CEO Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, published as a PDF in March 2026. It describes The Center as a nonprofit dedicated to closing the wealth gap by anchoring small businesses and the communities where they do business, and covers direct support to entrepreneurs, wildfire recovery and rebuilding, and advisor capacity building. The Impact At A Glance section states 969 1:1 hours, 490 jobs retained, 299 businesses directly served, 26 jobs created and $44M in capital and grants facilitated. It also says The Center served as administrator of the LA County Household Relief Grant program after the LA County wildfires.

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“The Center by Lendistry — 2025 Impact Report.” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/tcbl-2026-impact-report-final-pdf-ea7d0a7968d4c025-219b20c6f3/, SHA-256 90265e63585b0b4cc785801f8e477fc6dc3bb7d32faa81895a8f45460cdf7735.

Full text

2025

# IMPACT REPORT

# 2025

# IMPACT REPORT COVER: Coco's Cupcakes founder Nicole Green completed The Center's Digital Growth

> Accelerator. Read about it on page 10.

# CONTENTS

Message from the President & CEO 3

About Us 4

Impact At A Glance 5

Programs & Services Overview 6

Direct Support to Entrepreneurs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Wildfire Recovery & Rebuilding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Advisor Capacity Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Our Team 14

Acknowledgments 15

2MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO

2025 was a year of innovation and momentum for The

Center. We launched Main Street Goes Green to help small

businesses reduce costs and contractors participate in

a clean energy economy. We introduced the CA REACH

Hub to strengthen statewide support for small business

advisors, and B.U.I.L.D., our incubator to increase the

supply of affordable housing through innovative financing.

At the same time, last year required both urgency and

intention. In the aftermath of the LA County wildfires,

families and small businesses faced immediate housing

instability, income loss, and uncertainty about how

to recover. The Center responded quickly, serving as

a trusted administrator of the LA County Household

Relief Grant program and delivering timely support,

clarity, access, and trust during moments of crisis.

As that work unfolded, we listened closely to impacted

communities. Emergency relief was essential, but it was

not enough. Families needed guidance on rebuilding. Small businesses needed pathways

to stabilize and plan ahead. Contractors and local enterprises needed opportunities to

participate in recovery, not be left out of it. These insights shaped our work throughout 2025,

and informed the longer-term wildfire recovery and rebuilding efforts launching in 2026.

The pages that follow reflect both sides of this work: how The Center

responded in moments of immediate need, and how we are building systems

that support long-term recovery, resilience, and opportunity.

While this impact report focuses on the work of 2025, it also reflects a year of learning

and preparation. We completed a new Strategic Plan to guide our work from 2026–

2028, informed by the challenges, and opportunities that emerged this year.

Thank you to our partners, advisors, and the communities we serve. Your

trust allows us to advance our mission of closing the wealth gap by anchoring

small businesses and the communities where they do business.

Warm regards,

Tunua Thrash-Ntuk

President & CEO

3OUR MISSION

The Center by Lendistry

is a nonprofit organization

dedicated to closing the

wealth gap by anchoring small

businesses and the communities

where they do business.

WHO WE ARE

We support entrepreneurs through

education, technical assistance,

and access to competitive

financing while strengthening

the broader ecosystem that

surrounds them. Our work spans

direct business support, disaster

recovery and rebuilding, and

capacity building for the advisors

and organizations that serve small

businesses every day.

# ABOUT US

The Center's Tunua Thrash-Ntuk discusses rising energy costs and its impacts

with small business owners at their San Fernando-based shop Analia’s Boutique.

4IMPACT AT A GLANCE

# 969

1:1

hours

# 490

Jobs

retained

# 48%

Woman-

owned

# 299

Businesses

directly

served

# 55%

BIPOC-

owned

# 45%

Micro-

businesses

# 55%

Low-wealth

communities

RACE AND ETHNICITY OF BUSINESSES SERVED

> 0

Black Latinx White Middle Eastern Asian & Pacific Islander Native American 10 20 30 40 50

3% 4% 20% 29% 43%

> Note: Demographic data reflects 206 businesses that voluntarily self-reported race and ethnicity.

# 26

Jobs

created

# $44M

Capital and grants

facilitated

5Direct Support to Entrepreneurs ,

helping business owners strengthen

operations, access capital, and

build long-term resilience

Wildfire Recovery & Rebuilding ,

responding to immediate needs

while planning for equitable, long-

term recovery

Ecosystem Strengthening ,

investing in advisors, networks, and

systems that improve how small

business support is delivered

# PROGRAMS &

# SERVICES OVERVIEW

Participants of The Center's CA REACH Hub

The Center's Shafeeq Shamsid-

Deen and Ben Greenlea

6A MAJOR 2025 MILESTONE

Launched in May 2025, Main Street Goes Green

(MSGG) is an initiative that supports small

businesses, contractors, and local governments to

build sustainable and climate resilient communities.

MSGG includes two core components: a website with

practical tools, resources, and step-by-step guides,

and a fully funded accelerator that pairs grants

with personalized support. Together, they remove

barriers that have historically limited small business

participation in the clean energy transition. Learn more at www.mainstreetgoesgreen.com .

MAIN STREET GOES GREEN ACCELERATOR

Participants received:

» $500–$1,000 grants

» 10 hours of tailored technical assistance

» Connections to capital and clean-energy networks

» Tools to reduce energy, water, and waste costs

DIRECT SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS

Sherry Hechanova ,

Hechanova Immigration Law

Through the Main Street Goes Green Accelerator, immigration

attorney Sherry Hechanova reduced operating costs and

integrated sustainability into her long-term business strategy.

## 74

Participants

## 81

Jobs

retained

## $17K

Increase in

sales/revenue

## $34K

Capital

acessed

## 23

Jobs

created

Going green is a tangible, cost-

saving tool. It’s something any

business can put into practice.

7DIGITAL GROWTH ACCELERATOR (DGA)

DGA supports California small businesses in strengthening their digital

presence, improving digital marketing techniques, reaching new

customers, and increasing sales.

Participants received:

» Cohort-based hands-on learning and resources

offered in English and Spanish

» 10 hours of one-on-one advising from expert trainers

Nicole Green , Coco's Lip Smacking Cupcakes

Coco’s Lip Smacking Cupcakes founder Nicole Green used the skills

she gained from DGA to refine her marketing strategy and connect with

new audiences across her bakery, food truck, and cupcake cart.

BELTLINE BUSINESS VENTURES (BBV)

BBV is a small business accelerator launched by the Atlanta Beltline

Business Solutions Office in partnership with The Center and CVM

Worldwide. The program supports Atlanta-based small businesses

preparing to scale and establish brick-and-mortar locations within the

Beltline Planning Area.

Each cohort included:

» Three months of virtual and in-person learning

» Monthly peer networking opportunities

» Up to 10 hours of tailored one-on-one advising

» Resources to prepare for brick-and-mortar expansion

» A pitch competition

> Participants

$208K

> Capital
> acessed

296

> Jobs
> retained

$60K

> Increase in
> sales/revenue

DIRECT SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS

BBV gave me the next chapter I needed and a

community to reach back to every step of the way.

Tarina Hodges, Pepper’s Hot Dogs

Through BBV, Atlanta entrepreneur and trained chef Tarina Hodges shifted Pepper’s

Hot Dogs’ growth strategy from pop-ups to a scalable model built for high-traffic

venues. While in the program, she applied what she was learning in real time as she pursued major opportunities,

including launching a stand in the Atlanta Braves stadium and her first brick-and-mortar location in downtown Atlanta.

> New brick-
> and-mortar
> locations
> SHOP

Through DGA, I saw real improvements in my website

performance, Google visibility and customer calls. My

one-on-one sessions were a game changer! Mike did

a deep dive into my business and helped fix backend

issues that significantly improved my online presence.

8B.U.I.L.D. INCUBATOR BRIDGING UNIQUE INVESTMENTS TO LEVERAGE

DEVELOPMENT

Launched in 2025, the B.U.I.L.D. Incubator is designed to support

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) developers in creating

affordable housing without relying on tax credits. Through specialized

training, access to capital, and industry networking, B.U.I.L.D. equips

developers with the tools needed to deliver sustainable, community-

driven housing solutions.

Program benefits include:

» Access to non-LIHTC capital sources

» Tailored online and in-person learning

» Advisory networks with capital and industry experts

DIRECT SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS

B.U.I.L.D. gave me the clarity and

confidence to move my projects forward.

Alicia Matricardi , Matricardi Law

Through B.U.I.L.D., Alicia Matricardi, a California

licensed attorney and real estate broker specializing

in nonprofit law and affordable housing development,

strengthened her ability to pursue non-LIHTC housing

projects. The program helped her become more RFP-

ready, refine her project pitch, and better understand

how to engage equity and debt partners.

> Builders/
> developers

> Jobs
> retained

$2.4M

> Increase in
> sales/revenue

> Pitches
> refined
> 2025 inaugural B.U.I.L.D. cohort

9ACCESS TO CAPITAL

The Center’s access-to-capital services helps small businesses and

organizations navigate complex financing and secure resources aligned

with their mission and growth goals.

BUILD YOUR BUSINESS BANKING

CREDIT PROGRAM

The Center, in partnership with City National Bank,

launched the Build Your Business Banking Credit program

to help small businesses in Los Angeles County strengthen

their financial foundation and prepare for growth.

Participating businesses received:

» A $2,501 grant to open an interest-earning Certificate of Deposit (CD)

» Personalized guidance from financial advisors to support credit-building

and financial readiness

> 1:1 hours

> Participants

$2.6M

> Capital
> acessed

$88K

> Capital
> acessed

The Center helped us realize that our work,

our track record, and our finances are real

assets, and that we had the power to pursue

capital at this level.

Jessica Quintana , Executive Director, Centro CHA

Centro CHA is a leading non-profit organization

dedicated to the improvement and advancement

of the Latino/Hispanic community. With support

from The Center, Centro CHA secured a $2.6M

construction loan to purchase and redevelop a new

10,000-square-foot facility in North Long Beach.

> Training
> sessions

DIRECT SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS

10 WILDFIRE RECOVERY & REBUILDING PLANNING TODAY FOR

RECOVERY TOMORROW

Wildfire recovery does not end when

emergency response concludes. For

families and communities, rebuilding

is a long-term process that requires

coordinated systems, trusted

information, and sustained investment.

In 2025, The Center responded to

immediate LA County wildfire impacts

while laying the groundwork for

recovery and rebuilding initiatives

that will launch in 2026. This work

focuses on stabilization, planning, and

collaboration—ensuring that future

recovery efforts are more accessible,

equitable, and effective.

We lost our home, our belongings, and the heart

of our business. There were moments where

it felt impossible to move forward. But receiving the

grant was a turning point. We’ve been able to reorder

inventory, replace vital supplies, and start fulfilling orders

again. It helped bring my business back to life, and with

it, a piece of myself.

WILDFIRE RECOVERY & REBUILDING

# $31M+

Direct

support

# 3,425

Households

supported

LA COUNTY HOUSEHOLD RELIEF GRANT

In 2025, The Center administered the LA County Household Relief Grant program, delivering

$31M+ in direct support to 3,425 households severely impacted by the wildfires and helping

prevent displacement during an already uncertain period.

> The Center's Tunua Thrash-Ntuk meets with staff from County of Los
> Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs in Altadena.

Anonymous wildfire survivor and grant recipient

11 WILDFIRE HOME

REBUILDING

TOOLKIT LAUNCHING 2026

Throughout 2025, The Center

supported the development

of a Wildfire Home Rebuilding

Toolkit designed to help Altadena

homeowners navigate complex

rebuilding processes. The

toolkit will centralize guidance

on planning, documentation,

financing, and timelines—

reducing confusion and barriers

during recovery.

FORGE LA LAUNCHING 2026

FORGE LA (Financing Options

for Recovery, Growth, and

Equity in Los Angeles County)

is being developed as a

coordinated network of CDFI

organizations supporting

wildfire recovery and rebuilding.

In 2025, The Center helped

convene partners and align

approaches so that, once launched, FORGE LA can improve consistency,

reduce duplication, and strengthen outcomes for impacted communities.

CONTRACTORS ACCELERATOR LAUNCHING 2026

Recognizing that who rebuilds matters, The Center began planning a Contractors Accelerator

focused on supporting contractors engaged in rebuilding efforts in Altadena and the Pacific

Palisades. The program is designed to ensure recovery investments also strengthen local

economic opportunity.

WILDFIRE DISASTER MORTGAGE PRODUCT LAUNCHING 2026

In partnership with Lendistry, The Center advanced early planning for a pilot Wildfire Disaster

Mortgage Product to explore innovative financing approaches that address gaps left by

traditional recovery funding.

WILDFIRE RECOVERY & REBUILDING

12 ADVISOR CAPACITY BUILDING

REACH RESOURCES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP,

ADVISING & COACHING

The Center launched REACH, a digital platform designed to

strengthen California’s small business advising ecosystem.

REACH provides planning tools, a funding library, and a train-

the-trainer curriculum that equips advisors, coaches, and

mentors to better support entrepreneurs statewide.

> Participants

> Training
> sessions

Through REACH, our organization strengthened

how we deliver technical assistance to

entrepreneurs. The trainings provided practical, actionable

tools that we were able to implement immediately.

REACH helped us sharpen our approach and enhance

the support we provide to small business owners.

> Daniel Gowman,
> Financial Business
> Consultant, La Asociación
> de Emprendedor@s

13 Stanley E Washington

President & CEO

Pantheon Business Consulting LLC

BOARD CHAIR

McKell Beamon

Executive Sales Director

HashiCorp

SECRETARY

Adey Tesfaye

Head of CRA

City National Bank

TREASURER

P David Bramble

Managing Partner

MCB Real Estate

Warren V Chambers

Oncology Senior

Area Business Manager

Sanofi

Leeann Lynch

Chief Strategy Officer

Lendistry

Emeritus Board Members

Everett K Sands

CEO, Lendistry

Joy Bramble

Founder, The Baltimore Times

Ritzy Mullings

Small Business

Program Associate

Ben Greenlea

Small Business

Program Advisor

Allison Paillant

Economic Recovery

Corps Fellow

Monique Rodriguez

Office Services

Coordinator LA

Robert Bragaw

Senior Legal Counsel

Tunua

Thrash-Ntuk

President & CEO

Miranda Rodriguez

Vice President of

Strategy & Operations

Marina Garcia

Senior Project Manager

Shafeeq

Shamsid-Deen

Senior Program Manager

# BOARD OF DIRECTORS

# OUR TEAM

14 Ph: (213) 282-9875

contactus@thecenterbylendistry.org

thecenterbylendistry.org

Centered on small business.

Thank You to our Partners

# ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Ally Bank

American Business Bank

Atlanta Beltline, Inc

Banc of California

Bank of Hope

California Bank & Trust

California Community Reinvestment Coalition

California Office of the Small Business Advocate

Citizens Business Bank

City National Bank

Comerica Bank

County of Los Angeles Department of

Business and Consumer Affairs

First Citizens Bank

Invest in Our Future Fund

JP Morgan Chase

Lendistry

Lenfest

National Fair Housing Alliance,

Groundbreak Coalition

Pacific Premier/Columbia Bank

Philadelphia Foundation

Sunflower

Torrey Pines Bank/Western Alliance

TRC Companies, Metro Equity Toolkit

US Bank

US Bank Foundation

Wells Fargo

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