OUR MISSION
CIC’s mission is to strengthen our community and contribute to economic development by fueling the success of under-resourced entrepreneurs through education, mentoring, financing, and networking.
CIC was founded in 2011 and held its first workshop in May 2012. Since then, for every $1 spent by CIC, we have helped entrepreneurs generate $7.17 in wages from job creation in our community.
Businesses Opened
FTE Jobs Created
$ Million Generated Wages
Our Pillars
At the heart of our mission are four key pillars designed to empower entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. Through our comprehensive 16-week Entrepreneur Workshop, we provide vital education to help individuals evaluate the viability of their business ideas and build actionable plans.
Education
Our signature program, a 16-week Entrepreneur Workshop, enables entrepreneurs to determine whether their business is viable, develop an initial plan for launch or growing, and learn the fundamentals of how to act out that plan.
Mentoring
We pair entrepreneurs with experienced business professionals from the community for ongoing advisory support.
Networking
We create opportunities for entrepreneurs to build business networks and market their products and services through community events and press coverage.
Financing
We are filling the lending gap by offering micro-loans of up to $50,000 to qualified entrepreneurs.
Featured Entrepreneurs
Support small businesses. Shop local!
Together we are strengthening our community.
Whether you give your time, your resources, or your voice, every contribution makes a difference. Join us in building a stronger, more connected Charlottesville by donating, volunteering, or simply showing up. This is our home—and together, we rise.
Stay Connected!
From Creating Access to Capital to Empowering Small Business for Big Change.
The Community Investment Collaborative initially grew from the personal experience of Toan Nguyen, owner of C’ville Coffee during the recession. After numerous conversations, a workgroup of 48 people with nonprofit, business and education backgrounds came together to better understand the financing difficulties faced by micro-enterprises in our region. It became clear that small businesses lacked access to appropriate financial solutions and a comprehensive support system necessary for business success.
Business Insights
See some tips and insights from our blog