Grinnell Chamber of Commerce

The Grinnell Chamber of Commerce has the mission of growing and developing the local economy through initiatives such as marketing, facilitating community events, and providing networking opportunities for businesses. In addition, the Chamber acts as a central source of information for community members and visitors. SEG received a great deal of helpful advice from Chamber of Commerce members when setting up the Entrepreneurial Loans Program in fall of 2011. Our first entrepreneurial loan was to a vendor in the Marketplace on Main, a business incubator funded by the Chamber. The Chamber was also nice enough to allow SEG office space in their building, the Sullivan Bank, located at 833 Fourth Avenue.

Visit their website at: http://www.grinnellchamber.org/index.cfm

Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA)

MICA is a non-profit dedicated to serving low-income families in Hardin, Marshall, Poweshkiek, Story and Tama Counties. They provide services including family development and early childhood programs, tax assistance, and a food shelf. SEG has had a long-standing relationship with MICA ever since the creation of our Emergency Loans Program in 2010. MICA has been a wonderful partner both in referring clients to SEG’s programs and in educating SEG members about the needs of the community we live in.

For more information about MICA, visit their website at: http://www.micaonline.org/home

First Presbyterian Church of Grinnell

SEG has also had a long-standing relationship with the First Presbyterian Church of Grinnell (located at 1025 5th Avenue).The church is dedicated to addressing pressing social issues and providing generous assistance to those in need. It was actually the pastor of First Presbyterian, Kirsten Klepfer who first recognized the need for low-cost financial services in the community. Finding herself making interest-free loans to congregation members, she brought the idea Emergency Loans to SEG, feeling that the organization could take on and expand this initiative. Kirsten serves as a member of SEG’s Board of Directors.