CIC Tucson

📢 Next BIPOC Loan Fund Virtual Info Session: Wednesday, May 20th, from 9 am - 10 am (Register: https://linktr.ee/cictucson)

*YOU MUST ATTEND AN INFO SESSION TO APPLY TO THE BIPOC LOAN FUND*

In this session, we’ll give you all the info you need to apply, tips for a great application, and explain how it works. Attending this info session is the *FIRST (required) STEP* of the loan application process.

What is the BIPOC Loan Fund? It’s a loan program designed for small business owners in Southern Arizona who are looking to grow their businesses with a little extra support. The BIPOC Loan Program is created and managed by BIPOC community members to support our community.

Why attend the info session? These loans are highly competitive, and we want to give you tools to submit the best application possible and secure the funding your business needs.

Learn more about the BIPOC Loan Fund here: https://bipocloanfund.com

In honor of Juneteenth, CIC’s office is closed on Friday June 19th, 2026. We will reopen at 8:30 am on Monday, June 22nd.

Juneteenth reminds us that liberation is not a single moment in history, but a continued commitment to dismantling barriers and expanding opportunity for all. As an organization dedicated to economic inclusion, CIC recognizes the resilience, contributions, and leadership of Black communities in Southern Arizona and across the nation.

Today, we reflect on our shared history, and recommit ourselves to building a just and equitable future for all.

Looking for flexible financing to grow your small business? Join Caroline Nelson for a virtual info session, all about gaining access to capital: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/56117118203

🔹Discover which loan program is right for you and your business.
🔹Understand what you need to qualify, even if you haven’t qualified for traditional financing before.
🔹Learn tips for submitting a compelling application.
🔹Be able to ask questions and receive personalized support.

Community Investment Corporation (CIC) is an economic development nonprofit dedicated to the empowerment of Southern Arizona residents in Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yuma Counties since 1996.
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¿Es usted un emprendedor del sur de Arizona que busca financiamiento flexible para hacer crecer su pequeña empresa? Acompañe a Irasema Bañuelos en esta sesión informativa virtual para conocer las opciones disponibles y aprender cómo obtener acceso a capital para crecer su negocio: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/56117118203

🔹 Descubrir qué programa de préstamos es el más adecuado para usted y su negocio.
🔹 Entender qué se necesita para calificar, aunque anteriormente no haya calificado para financiamiento tradicional.
🔹 Aprender consejos para presentar una solicitud sólida y competitiva.
🔹 Hacer preguntas y recibir orientación personalizada.

Community Investment Corporation (CIC) es una organización sin fines de lucro dedicada al desarrollo económico y al fortalecimiento de las comunidades del sur de Arizona. Desde 1996, CIC ha apoyado a residentes y emprendedores en los condados de Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz y Yuma.

Have a burning question about small business finance?

Whether you're wondering about business loans, credit scores, cash flow, financial statements, startup funding, or anything in between, we want to hear from you!

On CIC’s new podcast, Let’s Talk Small Biz Finance, our team of experts and guests take a deep dive into the questions that matter most to entrepreneurs. Submit your questions through our podcast submission form, and your question could be featured in an upcoming episode.

No question is too basic or too complex. If it's on your mind, chances are other business owners are wondering the same thing.

Drop your question here: https://cictucson.org/podcast-submission-form

Some great resources on this list from My Schools Tucson for families seeking free meals in Pima County

School may be out for the summer, but kids still need nutritious meals to learn, grow, and thrive. Finding affordable meals for children can be a big concern for families.

If you're looking for free summer meals for children and teens in Pima County, we've gathered resources to help families find nearby meal sites and food assistance programs. From school district meal programs to community food distributions, library snack programs, and SUN Bucks benefits, there are options available across our community.

Programs highlighted include:
🔹 Tucson Unified School District (TUSD)
🔹 Marana Unified School District
🔹 Flowing Wells Unified School District
🔹 Ajo Unified School District
🔹 Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona resources
🔹 Pima County Public Library Summer Snack Program
🔹 Arizona Summer Food Service Program meal sites
🔹 SUN Bucks grocery benefits

No child should go hungry during summer break. Visit our latest blog to explore available resources and find support for your family.

Read the full blog and find links to free summer meals in Pima County: https://myschoolstucson.org/free-summer-meals

CIC Tucson is sharing its latest funding opportunity for entrepreneurs. CIC serves as the local Kiva Hub for Southern Arizona, with the goal of making funding more accessible and achievable for small business owners throughout the region. ✨

To learn more about Kiva, you can attend CIC’s virtual info session on June 23 from 9 - 10 am: https://ow.ly/BCj650Zc3FQ

Or you can attend the Kiva Collective Happy Hour in person on July 15 from 5 - 7 pm at Slow Body Beer: https://ow.ly/YgOk50Zc3FM

Childcare is essential infrastructure for families, businesses, and our economy.

A recent Arizona Public Media article highlighted the growing childcare crisis in Arizona, where nearly 12,800 children are currently on the waiting list for childcare assistance. As families face rising costs and limited access to care, the need for sustainable solutions has never been greater.

CIC's Executive Director, Danny Knee, shared how investments in small childcare businesses can help expand access to quality, affordable childcare throughout our communities.

"One way to do that is to work with some of the mom and pop childcare providers to see what they might need to expand who they can serve, increase the quality of their spaces that they have to serve children and hopefully to become a brick and mortar."

Earlier this year, CIC was proud to be selected as one of several organizations helping administer funding through Arizona's Bright Futures Initiative, a statewide effort to strengthen childcare businesses and increase access to care for working families.

When we invest in childcare providers, we're investing in parents, children, local businesses, and the future of Southern Arizona.

Thank you to AZPM and Noor Haghighi for highlighting this important issue and the voices of families, providers, and community partners working toward solutions.

Read the full story here: https://news.azpm.org/s/103486-az-childcare-landscape-in-crisis-as-assistance-waitlist-approaches-12800-kids

Are you a Southern Arizona childcare provider looking for business support in growing your business? Learn more about how CIC can help here: https://cictucson.org/bright-futures

This project is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds through the Office of Economic Opportunity Bright Futures AZ Child Care Microbusiness Investment Grant.

Happy pride month! In the words of Tucson LGBT Chamber of Commerce, we believe that inclusive business is good business.

Meet Robert, founder of Intelligent Clinical Systems in Tucson, Arizona, currently crowdfunding on Kiva! Support Robert: https://www.kiva.org/lend/3177495

Robert’s story: Robert is a critical care nurse who spent more than 15 years at the bedside, including five months on the frontlines in New York City during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout his career, he witnessed a frustrating reality in healthcare: nurses often spend valuable time searching for supplies instead of caring for patients. Those lost minutes can lead to delays, mistakes, and burnout.

Determined to find a solution, Robert returned to school and earned a Master’s degree in Engineering. Combining his clinical experience with technical expertise, he founded Intelligent Clinical Systems to develop Ambi — a smart supply system designed to help nurses locate critical supplies in seconds instead of minutes.

Ambi uses ambient intelligence embedded directly into clinical storage systems, helping healthcare workers quickly find what they need without relying on WiFi, cloud-based systems, or complex hospital IT integrations. The goal is simple: reduce burdens on nurses and give them more time to focus on patient care.

In addition to leading his company, Robert teaches nursing at the university level, mentoring future healthcare professionals in patient safety and critical thinking. His passion for supporting nurses continues to drive every aspect of his work.

Now, with support from a Kiva loan, Robert is working to bring Ambi to more hospitals and healthcare systems across the country. Join the movement and support Robert for as little as $25: https://www.kiva.org/lend/3177495

According to Robert: "I believe nurses are the backbone of healthcare. Everything I build is designed to protect their time, reduce their burden, and let them focus on what they became nurses to do: care for people."

One lender who saw Robert pitch at TENWEST Festival shared: "Simple, straightforward great business idea!" (Shoutout to Startup Tucson and University of Arizona Center for Innovation)

Interested in becoming a Kiva borrower, or amplifying your lending impact? Learn more about CIC's Kiva Southern Arizona Hub at cictucson.org/kiva

Want to dive deeper? Join us for Kiva Virtual Info Session on Thursday, June 11 from 9 AM - 10 AM MST, and get all of your questions answered about crowdfunding: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kiva-southern-arizona-info-session-tickets-1988770567303