THEORY OF CHANGE

If we support rural startups, nonprofits and small business owners, who have been traditionally excluded, through inclusive and equitable access to capital and resources, then we will enable sustainable, thriving rural communities as measured through improved social, economic and environmental outcomes.

Our Rural Community Goals

What

Create and retain jobs through assisting emerging and existing businesses

Provide access to capital and technical assistance that create and build community assets, infrastructure, and technology, leading to new businesses/nonprofits and job creation

Who

Help previously underserved rural entrepreneurs by building a thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem

Listen to our rural communities’ needs, and work with our collaborators and partners to co-design inclusive and culturally-competent technical assistance, mentorship, events, and other resources needed to support our rural ecosystem

How

Build partnerships and collaborations that uniquely leverage financial resources

Leverage FSWCF assets and Hellobello expertise with First SouthWest Bank and other financial institutions to create greater access to capital for rural entrepreneurs

Where We Work

icon for small business

Small Communities

No town in our footprint has a population larger than 20,000; meeting all United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) definitions of rural.

icon for small business

High Unemployment

Eight of our rural counties have an unemployment rate above the statewide average and six counties have an unemployment rate above the nationwide average of 8.3%.

icon for diversity

Diverse Communities

Seven of our rural counties have a Hispanic population larger than the statewide average of 17%; of those seven counties, four of them have a Hispanic population larger than 40% and two are majority Hispanic.