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Apr52018

Roberto Barragan Launches Aquaria Funding Solutions to Support CDFI Organizations and Small Businesses Across the Country

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Roberto Barragan launches Aquaria Funding Solutions Roberto Barragan, former CEO of VEDC (Valley Economic Development Center) has formed Aquaria Funding Solutions to serve as a consulting firm specializing in advising on CDFI formation and fundraising, assisting cities and financial institutions in creating small business programs to boost economic development and working directly with small businesses.…

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Apr42018

Kapoor’s Akbar Relocating to Downtown Los Angeles

NewsBy Aquaria Funding Solutions Leave a comment

Top rated eatery is relocating from their successful Pasadena location LOS ANGELES – April 4, 2018 – Kapoor’s Akbar will be celebrating their grand opening in downtown Los Angeles on April 4, 2018 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The new location in downtown Los Angeles marks a move from Pasadena where they were name the…

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Jan92018

How-to-Reshape-Future-of-Underserved-Communities-with-Small-Business-Lending

How to Reshape the Future of Underserved Communities with Small Business Lending

Small Business LendingBy Aquaria Funding Solutions

Ever wonder how Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) can really make a difference? CDFIs seeking to expand their small business lending in underserved communities nationally and wishing to ensure that their work is meeting community needs locally should follow these five simple steps: Work with those in the community that are connected to small business,…

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Why Banks Must Report Who Gets U.S. Small Business Loans

Small Business LendingBy Aquaria Funding Solutions

There is a pressing need for more data on small business lending in the United States, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau should implement section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act to collect data from banks on their small business lending. There continues to be significant differences in what type of credit, or loan, is available…

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Jan92018

Aquaria Demonstrates Reliability and Impact to Increase Funding Support

FundingBy Aquaria Funding Solutions

While numerous funders and CDFI membership association and affinity groups support organizations with grants, investments, and programmatic technical assistance, strengthening the fundraising capacity of these organizations would increase the impact of the industry as a whole. With this goal in mind, McIntyre-St. Clair and Aquaria Funding Solutions were recently contracted to assess the fundraising capacity…

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Roberto’s work with MEDA has been critical in developing the vision, mission and strategy for our nascent CDFI. He has been particularly thoughtful and insightful regarding our approach to carrying out small business lending. Aside from the specific deliverables, what I have appreciated the most is his initiative in advocating on our behalf with federal, private and other funders and influencers. He is truly one of our key team members.

Luis Granados, Mission Economic Development Agency, San Francisco, CA
Roberto believed in me 20 years ago when I bought this business, and he believed in me again last year with new financing. He meets small business, especially woman and minorities, where they live. And gets them the capital to succeed.

Naomi Prado, Southwest Molding, North Hollywood, California
“I have known, admired and respected Roberto for many years. This past year we had the opportunity to work together to launch a new lending initiative in Los Angeles. Roberto’s deep knowledge of small business lending and his numerous connections with funders and supporters both locally and on a national basis were key to the success of our efforts and have led to significant early success.”

Kurt Chilcott, President & CEO of CDC Small Business Finance