The Center by Lendistry, 2025 Impact Report

Summary

The 2025 Impact Report of The Center by Lendistry, a nonprofit dedicated to closing the wealth gap by anchoring small businesses and the communities where they do business. The message from president and CEO Tunua Thrash-Ntuk describes the launch of Main Street Goes Green, the CA REACH Hub for small business advisors and the B.U.I.L.D. affordable housing incubator, and the organization's role as administrator of the LA County Household Relief Grant program after the LA County wildfires, with longer-term wildfire recovery and rebuilding efforts launching in 2026 under a new Strategic Plan for 2026–2028. The impact figures report 299 businesses directly served, 48% woman-owned and 55% BIPOC-owned, and $44M in capital and grants facilitated. Sections cover direct support to entrepreneurs, wildfire recovery, advisor capacity building, the team, board and partners.

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“The Center by Lendistry, 2025 Impact Report.” Original at thecenterbylendistry.org. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/the-center-by-lendistry-2025-impact-report-66d4917e4e/, SHA-256 b06d5c8e3b9aad829316162de874d4b51182be622d3a401e4c716b12d18bf9ed.

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2025
IMPACT REPORT
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

COVER: Coco's Cupcakes founder Nicole Green completed The Center's Digital Growth
Accelerator. Read about it on page 10.

2
MESSAGE 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

3
ABOUT US

OUR 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
The Center's Tunua Thrash-Ntuk discusses rising energy costs and its impacts
businesses every day. with small business owners at their San Fernando-based shop Analia’s Boutique.

4
IMPACT AT A GLANCE

299 48% 55%
Businesses
directly Woman- BIPOC-
served owned owned

$44M 55% 45%
Capital and grants Low-wealth Micro-
facilitated communities businesses

969 490 26
1:1 Jobs Jobs
hours retained created

RACE AND ETHNICITY OF BUSINESSES SERVED

Black 43%

Latinx 29%

White 20%

Middle Eastern 4%

Asian & Pacific Islander 3%

Native American 1%

0 10 20 30 40 50

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

5
PROGRAMS &
SERVICES OVERVIEW

Participants of The Center's CA REACH Hub

Direct 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

The Center's Shafeeq Shamsid-
Deen and Ben Greenlea

6
DIRECT SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS

A 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

74 81 23 $17K $34K
Participants Jobs Jobs Increase in Capital
retained created sales/revenue acessed

Going green is a tangible, cost-
saving tool. It’s something any
business can put into practice.

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.

7
DIRECT SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS

DIGITAL GROWTH ACCELERATOR (DGA) 79
Participants
DGA supports California small businesses in strengthening their digital
presence, improving digital marketing techniques, reaching new
customers, and increasing sales. 296
Jobs
Participants received: retained

» Cohort-based hands-on learning and resources
offered in English and Spanish $60K
Increase in
» 10 hours of one-on-one advising from expert trainers sales/revenue

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.

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) 21
Participants
BBV is a small business accelerator launched by the Atlanta Beltline
Business Solutions Office in partnership with The Center and CVM
SHOP
Worldwide. The program supports Atlanta-based small businesses 15
New brick-
preparing to scale and establish brick-and-mortar locations within the and-mortar
Beltline Planning Area. locations

Each cohort included:
$208K
» Three months of virtual and in-person learning Capital
acessed
» 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

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.

8
DIRECT SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS

B.U.I.L.D. INCUBATOR 12
Builders/
BRIDGING UNIQUE INVESTMENTS TO LEVERAGE developers

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 12
Jobs
affordable housing without relying on tax credits. Through specialized retained
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. 12
Pitches
refined
Program benefits include:
» Access to non-LIHTC capital sources
» Tailored online and in-person learning $2.4M
Increase in
» Advisory networks with capital and industry experts sales/revenue

2025 inaugural B.U.I.L.D. cohort

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.

9
DIRECT SUPPORT TO ENTREPRENEURS

ACCESS TO CAPITAL 31
Participants
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. 36
1:1 hours

The Center helped us realize that our work,
our track record, and our finances are real
$2.6M
Capital
assets, and that we had the power to pursue acessed

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.

BUILD YOUR BUSINESS BANKING 53
CREDIT PROGRAM Participants

The Center, in partnership with City National Bank,
launched the Build Your Business Banking Credit program 8
to help small businesses in Los Angeles County strengthen Training
sessions
their financial foundation and prepare for growth.

Participating businesses received:
$88K
Capital
» A $2,501 grant to open an interest-earning Certificate of Deposit (CD) acessed

» Personalized guidance from financial advisors to support credit-building
and financial readiness

10
WILDFIRE RECOVERY & REBUILDING

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

$31M+ 3,425
Direct Households
support 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.

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.

Anonymous wildfire survivor and grant recipient

11
WILDFIRE RECOVERY & REBUILDING

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.

12
ADVISOR CAPACITY BUILDING

REACH
RESOURCES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP, 40
ADVISING & COACHING Participants

The Center launched REACH, a digital platform designed to
strengthen California’s small business advising ecosystem. 15
REACH provides planning tools, a funding library, and a train- Training
sessions
the-trainer curriculum that equips advisors, coaches, and
mentors to better support entrepreneurs statewide.

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
OUR TEAM

Tunua Miranda Rodriguez Marina Garcia Shafeeq
Thrash-Ntuk Vice President of Senior Project Manager Shamsid-Deen
President & CEO Strategy & Operations Senior Program Manager

Ritzy Mullings Ben Greenlea Allison Paillant Monique Rodriguez Robert Bragaw
Small Business Small Business Economic Recovery Office Services Senior Legal Counsel
Program Associate Program Advisor Corps Fellow Coordinator LA

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Stanley E. Washington McKell Beamon Adey Tesfaye
President & CEO Executive Sales Director Head of CRA
Pantheon Business Consulting LLC HashiCorp City National Bank
BOARD CHAIR SECRETARY TREASURER

P. David Bramble Warren V. Chambers Leeann Lynch
Managing Partner Oncology Senior Chief Strategy Officer
MCB Real Estate Area Business Manager Lendistry
Sanofi

Emeritus Board Members
Everett K. Sands Joy Bramble
CEO, Lendistry Founder, The Baltimore Times

14
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thank You to our Partners

Ally Bank Invest in Our Future Fund

American Business Bank JP Morgan Chase

Atlanta Beltline, Inc Lendistry

Banc of California Lenfest

National Fair Housing Alliance,
Bank of Hope
Groundbreak Coalition

California Bank & Trust Pacific Premier/Columbia Bank

California Community Reinvestment Coalition Philadelphia Foundation

California Office of the Small Business Advocate Sunflower

Citizens Business Bank Torrey Pines Bank/Western Alliance

City National Bank TRC Companies, Metro Equity Toolkit

Comerica Bank US Bank

County of Los Angeles Department of
US Bank Foundation
Business and Consumer Affairs

First Citizens Bank Wells Fargo

Centered on small business.
Ph: (213) 282-9875

contactus@thecenterbylendistry.org

thecenterbylendistry.org

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