“VSEDC doesn’t just train entrepreneurs. They stand beside us.”
– Curtis Young, Owner/Operator
Closed Loop Engineering
The challenge
Like so many entrepreneurs Curtis Young had vision, skill and the equipment, but the challenge of promoting his services, running more efficient systems, and access to capital was hindering the growth of his prototype shop, Closed Loop Engineering, in the heart of Crenshaw Boulevard.
The solution
For eight weeks Curtis closed his shop early every Thursday night to attend the Economic Mobility Initiative course, hosted by LA County’s Department of Economic Opportunity and run by Jazz Keyes at VSEDC. It was there he was taught how to do a deep audit of his business, solidify his messaging, and identify his “ideal” customer. The process created direct referral opportunities and Curtis had the information and space to streamline key parts of his operation.
The outcome
After the course, Curtis applied for a micro loan through VSEDC’s CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) which gave him operational capital that allowed him to train his team, invest in internal improvements, and expand with confidence. Curtis had the space to reach South LA’s innovators and inventors and help them make their business dreams come true.
Adapting the new model into our everyday
When Jazz Keyes, now President and CEO of VSEDC, built the EMI curriculum she and her team created a highly successful blueprint for cohort curriculum, engagement and management that spoke to minority business owners, Spanish language business owners, and foster youth entrepreneurs. Nearly 400 participants engaged in the program that offered six separate cohorts. Of those who registered for a cohort, 98% graduated. 100% of those who sought loans through VSEDC CDFI were loan ready.
“Almost every CDFI client who graduated from one of Jazz’s cohorts last year were all loan ready. We didn’t have to send them back to a class, show them how to repair their credit, explain how to put their financials together, or help them file taxes. Her cohorts graduated business owners with everything they needed to access capital. It was remarkable,” says Terry Gubatan, Senior Business Advisor at VSEDC.
Jazz Keyes, who has been building programs for 15 years, built a curriculum for VSEDC that was thorough and presented in real time via hybrid courses with plenty of room for interaction with students. She teaches her team to create a safe space where people feel listened to, embed weekly actionable items to keep them engaged, and touch base with them once a week between classes. “In South LA, talent has never been the issue. Innovation has never been the issue. Access is the issue. Systems are the issue. For us, this work is about dismantling barriers and building bridges. When our entrepreneurs’ graduate loan ready, financially organized, credit aligned, and clear on their value, that’s not by chance. That’s intentional design. That’s what happens when community, accountability, and belief come together. That’s economic justice in motion,” says Jazz.
Support for VSEDC’s programs
This program model, which produces sophisticated entrepreneurs and small business owners, is the direction of VSEDC’s Business Programs will take going forward thanks to $250,000 in grant support from the Citi Foundation’s 2025 Community Finance Initiative. This calendar year at least four new cohorts will launch based on the tenants of the EMI program.
“I am incredibly proud to be part of an organization that deeply understands and actively supports the backbone of our economy: small businesses” said Anabel Santamaria US Community Relations Market Manager at Citi. “At Citi and the Citi Foundation, our commitment to community investment, exemplified by the vital support extended to organizations like Vermont Slauson EDC, showcases a genuine dedication to fostering local growth and opportunity. I personally look forward to engaging with the VSEDC team and having a front row seat to the real impact their financial coaching and counseling efforts have on ensuring businesses like Mr. Young’s thrive.”
Why access to capital is important
“Loan readiness at graduation is more than an outcome, it’s a shift in economic power,” says Jazz. “I’m proud of every entrepreneur who steps into our classroom and does the work. We’re not just supporting businesses; we’re building legacy. And we’ll continue standing beside our graduates as they grow, scale, and circulate wealth back into our community.”
Today, Curtis Young’s company is thriving. Sales are up, and his focus is on expanding his client base and educating the South LA business community on the product production journey. In March and April, VSEDC will launch a workshop with Curtis, co-facilitated by Jazz, specifically on the inventor’s journey.
When asked about his relationship with VSEDC, Curtis replied, “VSEDC doesn’t just train entrepreneurs. They stand beside us.”
VSEDC’s loan-ready business programs are presented by VSEDC’s SBA South LA Women’s Business Center, and made possible by a generous grant from the Citi Foundation.
