2024

Welcome to our 2024 year in review: a collection of highlights, accomplishments and some of our favorite moments

MILESTONES

JANUARY
Digital Literacy Program is launched as a four-week pilot, three times a week. This hybrid program was designed to teach participant, file management, configuration, safety, how to create spreadsheets, use email, create social media and more.

VSEDC continues as a founding partner of the LA County Small Business Ecosystem Coalition with LA Area Chamber of Commerce, LISC-LA, advised by NextStreet.
FEBRUARY
(TESA) A six-week virtual training program with USC Dornsife College, supporting South LA start-up founders and small businesses in scaling operations. Delivered in English and Spanish, the program graduated 70 participants.

CEO Quentin Strode joined a panel to discuss partnership opportunities for non-profits supporting small businesses and their impact on Los Angeles County's small business landscape.

Mayor Bass Ad hoc Committee on the City's 5-year strategic plan.

LAEDC Economic Forecast: Panelist on the topic of future opportunities in collaboration with other local Economic Development Organizations
MARCH
As part of Women’s History Month’s Celebration and Pitch Competition, VSEDC honored three pillars of the community in Los Angeles: Margaret White, President of the California Construction Compliance, Raquel A. Bone, Senior Vice President, Market Managing Director, and PNC Institutional Asset Management of PNC Bank, and Maria Jimenez-Torres, Executive Director of Plaza De La Raza.

VSEDC bought out out partner in the Vermont Slason Shopping Center making us sole owner of the site in a $22 million dollar transaction.
APRIL
VSEDC, LAEDC and 7 other Economic Development organizations create a collaborative approach generating funding for local projects. This collaborative will allow us to use the power of Los Angeles County with funding opportunities at the Federal and State level.

MAY
VSEDC launched South LA’s first SBA Women’s Business Center, supported by Wells Fargo. SBA Administrator, Isabella Casillas-Guzman and City of LA Mayor Karen Bass celebrated with us at the grand opening.

VSEDC unveiled its official rebrand, marking a fresh start with a modernized look. The rebranding includes a sleek new logo, an updated website, and a fully revamped brand identity.
JUNE
Digital Accelerator with City of LA’s Mayor’s Office, Vision Lab and TEC Leimert launched a cohort to teach youth and small business owners how to create and manage social media content to expand a small business’ digital footprint. Youth are paired with businesses for paid internships. One student was hired as a social media Manager for one of the small businesses.
JULY
Teen Tech Center families joined an intergenerational program to share ideas and launch family businesses, working side-by-side in a co-working space to improve their lives and community.

The Beauty & the Biz incubator program supported 45 beauty entrepreneurs. Highlights include the 1st Place winner launching in-store in November 2024 and the 2nd Place winner a Runner Up at the 2024 Grand Pitch.
AUGUST
Urban Pose represents a continual corporate effort aimed at promoting allyship, inclusivity, and equality within the fashion sector. This initiative actively champions minority-owned fashion brands by offering support, nurturing, and elevating their business.

Check presentation of $500,000, supporting our work in upgrading the shopping center
OCTOBER
As part of Latino Heritage Month and Pitch Competition, VSEDC honored two pillars of the community in Los Angeles: Jannely Calderon, owner of La Chime and Liliana T. Perez, Cultural Affairs Director for The Los Angeles Chargers.

By mid-October, VSEDC’s CDFI deployed over $5M in loans to 98 businesses from at-risk areas in LA County.

PNC annual event honoring the organizations they support financially in the small business support space.

VSEDC receives the LAEDC Strategic Engagement Partner of the year award.

Sell or Acquire Readiness (SOAR) presented at the annual conference of Prosperity Now. SOAR is a training tool to aid underserved businesses with the process of buying or selling a company.
NOVEMBER
As a local CDFI co-host for the Opportunity Finance Network conference, VSEDC led 33 CDFI leaders and funders on a South LA bus tour, showcasing sites like Destination Crenshaw, Self-Help Credit Union, and VSEDC HQ to highlight CDFI impacts since the 1992 LA Riots.
DECEMBER
BBTTC Young Innovator Accelerator (YIA) is the second annual partnership with Annenberg Foundation and Greater LA Education Fund entailed students learning the foundations of entrepreneurship and key components of a pitch deck at Spotify’s HQ.

BBTTC served over 500 youth this year, hitting an all-time high since its opening in June of 2022.

20
24

IN NUMBERS

BEST BUY TEEN
TECH CENTER

PROJECTS WE ARE PROUD OF

TEEN TECH CENTER

High school student Melody Martinez created an impressive invention called, The Handler, designed for transporting multiple grocery bags. Using Tinker Cad software to design her product, she showcased creativity and problem-solving skills, resulting in a multi-pronged prototype with a strong grip and sturdy design.

PROGRAMS

Partnered with Delete the Divide to host two digital literacy trainings and laptop giveaways. Trained and provided equipment to 65 business owners.

LENDING

SBA HQs in Washington DC approved VS-LDC, a certified CDFI, to SBA Microloan Intermediary in LA County.

$5,000 to $50,000, 3-5 years, up to 10.0% interest rate

A SNEAK PEAK INTO 2025

GRAND PITCH GALA

Celebrate VSEDC’s 45 years of service with a gala in November featuring our Grand Pitch Competition.

BEST BUY TEEN TECH CENTER

New STEM program for students with disabilities (Spring). Student field trips to tech companies, financial institutions, and Junior Achievement Financial Park.

WBC ACCOUNTABILITY CLUB

A supportive community where members meet every two weeks to set goals, share progress, and hold each other accountable. Each session focuses on reviewing achievements, setting new objectives, and discussing challenges.

VSEDC is here to make sure the small businesses of South LA aren’t overlooked but get their fair shake. It’s an organization of people, passion, purpose, and drive to make small businesses stronger and lift up individuals, families, and their economic way of life.

TERRY GUBATAN
SR. BUSINESS ADVISOR

Help us do more in 2025!

Your support fuels our mission to drive economic development and uplift underserved communities. Donate today and be a part of creating a stronger, more equitable South LA. Together, we can build a future filled with opportunity!

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