Members of U.S. Treasury Department’s CDFI tour Justine Petersen sites

In May 2023, Justine PETERSEN announced being awarded a $6.2 million grant from the United States Treasury Department’s Commnunity Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund’s Equitable Recovery Program.

On Wednesday last week (Sept. 20, 2023), JP had the opportunity to host several members of the CDFI Fund, including Sharon Johnson Theodore and Annie Kraft. The day included tours of JP’s facilities, their 1023 North Grand headquarters and The Greencubator. CDFI representatives were also introduced to JP team members Board President Eddie Davis and Board Secretary Rochelle Bea.

Justine PETERSEN Founder and CEO Rob Boyle was able to give background on Justine Petersen the person, and how she became the inspiration for Justine PETERSEN the organization’s mission and work today. That mission and work is saying “yes” to those with a vision to enhance their community through a small business by providing them with accessible capital.

Further, several of the organization’s clients were present for discussion at JP’s offices and on-site visits, including Abra McField of Hair By Abra Kadabra, and Tynina Grissom of Silver Keys Global Enterprise Realty, among others, to walk through their stories of challenges they still face as minority small business entrepreneurs, resilience from navigating through the pandemic, and success achieved after receiving funding support from JP.

As JP CEO Rob Boyle stated, “It was a most special day to celebrate our success thus far as an organization, and the many more we can surely look forward to thanks to this most humbling grant from the CDFI Fund.”