PeopleFund Blog

Black History Month Staff Spotlight: Sarina Kyle

During Black History Month, PeopleFund is honored to spotlight our Fort Worth Loan Officer, Sarina Kyle.   Born and raised in Mississippi, Sarina relocated to Texas in 2019 with her family and two daughters. To Sarina, family is everything. Every Sunday, her family enjoys a tradition called “Sunday Funday” where they get together…

During Black History Month, PeopleFund is honored to spotlight our Fort Worth Loan Officer, Sarina Kyle.   Born and raised in Mississippi, Sarina relocated to Texas in 2019 with her family and two daughters. To Sarina, family is everything. Every Sunday, her family enjoys a tradition called “Sunday Funday” where they get together…

The Veteran Collaborative Announces the Creation of the Veteran Loan Fund

PeopleFund is honored to be one of twelve Community Development Financial Institutions announcing the creation of the Veteran Loan Fund, with Bank of America as the lead capital investor. The Veteran Loan Fund aims to fill the financial and training gap that underserved military veterans face when building a small business. This…

PeopleFund is honored to be one of twelve Community Development Financial Institutions announcing the creation of the Veteran Loan Fund, with Bank of America as the lead capital investor. The Veteran Loan Fund aims to fill the financial and training gap that underserved military veterans face when building a small business. This…

PeopleFund Chosen To Join Starbucks Community Resilience Fund

PeopleFund is excited to announce that we have been selected to receive funding as part of Starbucks Community Resilience Fund.  The funding awarded to PeopleFund will support small business growth projects in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.  Starbucks has given PeopleFund access to a $3 million, 10-year credit to…

PeopleFund is excited to announce that we have been selected to receive funding as part of Starbucks Community Resilience Fund.  The funding awarded to PeopleFund will support small business growth projects in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.  Starbucks has given PeopleFund access to a $3 million, 10-year credit to…

Client Spotlight: Tires Square

Have you ever visited a tire shop and been frustrated by the lack of quality customer service? Garis and Mary Machado felt the same way and decided to do something about it. Thus, in June 2020, Tires Square was born in Katy, Texas. At the forefront of their business, Garis and Mary instated a mission to provide the best customer service to…

Have you ever visited a tire shop and been frustrated by the lack of quality customer service? Garis and Mary Machado felt the same way and decided to do something about it. Thus, in June 2020, Tires Square was born in Katy, Texas. At the forefront of their business, Garis and Mary instated a mission to provide the best customer service to…

PeopleFund receives Financial Assistance Award from U.S. Department of Treasury

PeopleFund is thrilled to announce that it has been selected as a 2021 CDFI Financial Assistance awardee by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI). This generous $676,000 award will allow the organization to further expand its lending and education services in underserved communities across Texas. Over…

PeopleFund is thrilled to announce that it has been selected as a 2021 CDFI Financial Assistance awardee by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI). This generous $676,000 award will allow the organization to further expand its lending and education services in underserved communities across Texas. Over…

PeopleFund Expanding to East Texas with Grant from T.L.L. Temple Foundation

PeopleFund, one of two CDFIs, was selected to receive a generous grant from T.L.L. Temple Foundation to expand its services and resources to East Texas. PeopleFund is actively committed to empowering economically underserved and rural populations across Texas. Having recently received an award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to provide loans…

PeopleFund, one of two CDFIs, was selected to receive a generous grant from T.L.L. Temple Foundation to expand its services and resources to East Texas. PeopleFund is actively committed to empowering economically underserved and rural populations across Texas. Having recently received an award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to provide loans…

Hispanic Heritage Month Employee Spotlight: Martha Victoria Valdez

During this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month, PeopleFund is proud to feature our very own Martha Victoria Valdez, Senior Economic Development Officer of South Texas. Martha was born and raised in Laredo. Growing up, she spent a lot of time with her grandmother, Julia, originally from Juarez, Chihuahua, who taught Martha how to make many traditional Mexican dishes such as…

During this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month, PeopleFund is proud to feature our very own Martha Victoria Valdez, Senior Economic Development Officer of South Texas. Martha was born and raised in Laredo. Growing up, she spent a lot of time with her grandmother, Julia, originally from Juarez, Chihuahua, who taught Martha how to make many traditional Mexican dishes such as…

Hispanic Heritage Month Client Spotlight: John Zapata, Speed Junction Xpress Auto Care

Speed Junction Xpress Auto Care, one of the first mobile quick lube companies in the Houston/Baytown area, revved their engine up for the first time earlier this year. Owner, John Zapata, started this business venture after the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to resign from the small car dealership and…

Speed Junction Xpress Auto Care, one of the first mobile quick lube companies in the Houston/Baytown area, revved their engine up for the first time earlier this year. Owner, John Zapata, started this business venture after the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to resign from the small car dealership and…

BIPOC Small Business Accelerator

PeopleFund proudly announces launching our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Small Business Accelerator. Our new signature initiative strategically aims to meet diverse community needs that have been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately impacted small businesses and people of color. We are thrilled to launch our first cohorts…

PeopleFund proudly announces launching our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Small Business Accelerator. Our new signature initiative strategically aims to meet diverse community needs that have been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately impacted small businesses and people of color. We are thrilled to launch our first cohorts…

Client Highlight: Invictus Martial Arts

Our clients, Selynda Garza and Dave Hackbarth shared the story of their business, Invictus Martial Arts. Read their story below: “Through a shared passion for martial arts and a holistic view of life, we became quick friends and collaborated on several events and training opportunities together. In late 2017, we had a…

Our clients, Selynda Garza and Dave Hackbarth shared the story of their business, Invictus Martial Arts. Read their story below: “Through a shared passion for martial arts and a holistic view of life, we became quick friends and collaborated on several events and training opportunities together. In late 2017, we had a…