[ad_1]
Over the past three decades, nonprofit lender LiftFund, led by Janie Barrera, estimates that 25,000 small businesses in 15 states have received nearly $500 million in loans under $50,000.
According to Barrera, that’s $30 million a year, and the vast majority pay the full amount.
“We paid back 96 percent of it,” said Barrera, a Corpus Christi graduate of Incarnate Ward College.
She said small business owners understand that LiftFund is a more liberal nonprofit, unlike a highly regulated bank.
“Others said no, but we can say yes,” said Barrera. “They want to honor it, honor it, and pay us back.”
By coming to the rescue when small business owners need it most, Barrera said in a way what she meant to do.
Business oriented from the beginning
From an early age, Barrera was an entrepreneur at heart.
When she wanted a new bike, Barrera said her mother told her no.She already had a perfectly good bike.
Barrera recalls that it didn’t stop her.
Little Johnny asked, “If I raise the money, can I buy that bike?” And she said, “Of course, how are you going to raise the money?”
Barrera said he went door-to-door in his neighborhood, selling lottery tickets, winning old bicycles and buying new ones.
“That was my first entrepreneurial experience when I was 10,” says Barrera.
After all, Valera Dicko, Or the saying was, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Entered a convent after graduating from high school
Raised in the Catholic Church and educated in Catholic schools, Barrera said she was inspired by the goodness of nuns at that point.
Despite her parents’ mixed reactions to her decision to become a nun after high school, Barrera entered a convent.
As a nun, Barrera helped establish radio and television stations with Catholic programming in Corpus Christi and Laredo.
However, when the new bishop arrived, Barrera said he would not allow her to apply for the job as general manager.
“He said, ‘I can work for anyone I hire,'” Barrera said. “I was devastated.”
After completing her MBA at Incarnate Word, Barrera eventually left the order.
Still, as President and CEO of LiftFund, Barrera, who has helped thousands of small business owners achieve their goals, said, “I still believe I’m doing God’s work.” I’m here.
Even at KSAT
Copyright 2022 by KSAT – All rights reserved.
[ad_2]
Source link
