Urban Innovation21: A model trustee

To say that Pittsburgh, Penn. nonprofit Urban Innovation21 is a model trustee is an understatement. Urban Innovation21 has only been a Kiva Zip trustee for four months but has already helped four small businesses get a crowd-funded loan apiece. All of the small businesses, from Tracy's Shear Delight Beauty Salon to Angela's A-1 Business Center, are now on the repayment stage. It's almost too good to believe. How does Urban Innovation21 do it?

The Hill District-based organization describes itself as "a public-private partnership that boosts regional economic development through 21st century innovation-driven entrepreneurship." Urban Innovation21 works with local businesses, community-based nonprofits, universities, and state, county, and city officials to promote economic development in what is called the Pittsburgh Central Keystone Innovation Zone. The initiative aims to bring together tax incentives and entrepreneurial resources in under-served areas of the city. With all of that experience in economic development, it is little shock that the organization jumped at the opportunity to become a Kiva Zip trustee and add another tool to their toolbox with 0% interest, collateral-free micro-loans as an offering.

How did Urban Innovation21 decide who to endorse in the Hill District? Drawing on their connections to the community and comprehensive understanding of small businesses, the team held a competition. More than 50 small business owners showed interest, but to even be considered for an endorsement Urban Innovation21 required participants to attend four sessions over four weeks on entrepreneurship. During each workshop, the team and the participants worked through everything from a good business plan to how to market a product. By the end of the four weeks, the field had narrowed considerably and soon after the team decided who to endorse from among the participants.

The Urban Innovation21 insignia