I’m part of a five-person team rolling out KIVA – crowd sourced lending with zero interest — in Southwest Virginia.  I woke up this morning and I am 52 percent toward my goal of raising $9,000.    For any of you that have contributed (not donated–KIVA is a loan so you will be repaid), thank you.

Here’s my KIVA story…

https://www.kiva.org/lend/1501114

It has been a real adventure.   Look at my hair at the podium.  It was so hot.  I was sweating.  This was at the 2018 Southwest Virginia Economic Forum at UVA Wise.

Helping any of the five KIVA participants in Southwest Virginia is helping Southwest Virginia as we reinvent our economy.   If this works, and I believe it will — although I’d recommend a smaller loan than $9,000.00 — we’ll have a tool that will enable a small loan for someone who might not otherwise be able to get that loan.  Perhaps they are needing a commercial mixer for their cupcake business ran from their home; maybe they need a new piece of equipment for a home cleaning business, etc.    Lenders to KIVA are people who are interested in finding a way to make the world a better place.

Everyone should be able to earn a decent living.   KIVA is just another tool in our toolbox.