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www.vicnews.com
Opportunity knocks for entrepreneurs Online micro loans program allows business people to connect with financiers, mentors Daniel Palmer News staff
Three years ago, Chelsey Taporowski was barely making ends meet. A single mother, she was studying for her mortgage broker’s licence and working as a server at night, struggling to find time to spend with her kids. When she came across Community Micro Lending, Taporowski tapped in to a Don Denton/News staff support base and an afford- Victoria mortgage broker Chelsey Taporowski able way to take control of got her start with a loan from Community her professional life. Micro Lending, a peer-to-peer program. “I took a small loan, but it was enough to give me the confidence money, you need money, I’ll lend you to allow me to quit my job as a wait- a little bit of money so you can create ress and put some time into building a sustainable livelihood for yourself,” she said. “A lot of people said this is my business,” she said. The made-in-Victoria micro loan pro- never going to work here, this is more gram gives local entrepreneurs a boost suited to the developing world. But it by providing low-interest loans and happened.” Three years later, Taporowski’s busipeer mentorship, creating community ness is thriving. She praises the pronetworks in the local economy. Lenders can browse online about gram for the way it connects lenders budding entrepreneurs and contribute with entrepreneurs, encourages reguin $500 increments with a guaranteed lar meetings and accountability and provides a comfortable and accessible two-per-cent return. “We posted two loans – $5,000 each way to take out a loan. “Being in financing now, I just feel – on a Wednesday and they were filled by the following Monday,” said founder like the creative financing aspect is Lisa Helps, who is also a City of Victo- so much less intimidating, especially when you’re a vulnerable position like ria councillor. Last month, the non-profit unveiled a being a single parent,” she said. “Being revamped website that allows donors able to take some risk without relying to make automatic online contribu- on (government) subsidies is big.” For more information on the protions, and there are plans to expand the service across Canada, Helps said. gram, visit communitymicrolending.ca. dpalmer@vicnews.com “It’s quite a simple concept. I’ve got
Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Cool character Ainsley Johnson, 2, enjoys an ice cream cone at Beacon Drive-In. She and her mom were there looking to cool off on a record-breaking hot day. Sunday’s temperature reached 28.1 C, eclipsing the previous record by three degrees. Forecasts call for continued warm temperatures the rest of this week.
DON’T WAIT FOR CHANGE CHANGE for theMAY BETTER VOTE EARLY 8-11 ROB
MAURINE
CAROLE
VICTORIA SWAN LAKE
ESQUIMALT ROYAL ROADS
VICTORIA BEACON HILL
FLEMING KARAGIANIS JAMES
Authorized by Heatherby Harrison, Financial Agent, 604-430-8600 | CUPE 3787 | CUPE 3787 Authorized Heather Harrison, Financial Agent, 604-430-8600