Real Stories, Real Impact

Amy Anderson at JillyBeanz

Amy Anderson turned personal tragedy into community joy with the JillyBeanz ice cream shop, a tribute to her daughter that’s become a beloved local hangout in Waldport. With support from CO.STARTERS and a $9,000 Kiva U.S. loan, she transformed her vision into reality. Her handcrafted ice cream shop is now a gathering place where locals and tourists alike come together. I can assure you that the Affagoto (espresso poured over vanilla bean ice cream) will make your day, and they have a pup cone for your 4-legged friend.

Culinary Innovation

Marcie Baker merged two restaurants—Marcie’s Bistro and Zest Creperie—into the thriving Kindred, by Zest in Lincoln City. Open 4 PM to 1 AM, it’s quickly becoming Lincoln City’s late-night food hangout. Stop by and try a signature adaptogen elixir for something new. Marci believed in the program so much that she became a CO.STARTER-trained facilitator and now teaches it to others.

Business Services, Child Care & Creative Growth

Desiree York expanded Dollar and Sense Bookkeeping and Notary Girl in Newport to serve businesses throughout the county. Laura Lubinski’s Artsea Craftsea grew from a small studio into a larger space that offers everything from pottery painting to children’s camps. Artsea Craftsea has 25 Google reviews and has a 5-star rating with reviews.

Or consider Lindsey Briggs, who breathed new life into Enterprise’s historic downtown with River Street Market. Through a $6,000 EEIP grant from NEOEDD and a $12,500 Kiva U.S. loan facilitated by Foundry Collective and Kiva Oregon, Lindsey established a community hub at 104 N River Street.

Liz “The Compost Chick” in La Grande secured a $14,000 Kiva loan (funded in just 8 days) and was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023. Her business diverts food waste from landfills while providing finished compost across nine Eastern Oregon towns.

Katelyn at Princeton Producers: Strengthening Food Systems

Located along Highway 78, three hours from any major city, Katelyn’s ranch-to-table beef operation fills a critical gap in regional food security. Her KIVA loan, backed by 409 lenders, funded a customized cargo trailer for farmers’ markets and regional distribution. “Your support extends beyond just myself and my family to benefit everyone we serve in our rural community,” Katelyn explains.

“By helping Princeton Producers grow, you support sustainable agriculture, local food systems, and economic resilience in Eastern Oregon.” The loan enabled Katelyn to expand her service area, bringing trusted, local beef to more rural families while strengthening the agricultural heritage of Harney County.

Breaking Down the Barriers

This is where Kiva’s work gets interesting. Instead of asking for credit scores or collateral, we look at what these entrepreneurs are actually building. Their connections in the community. Their track record of showing up. The problems they’re solving.

So far in 2025, the Kiva community has supported 49,655 women worldwide, including 385 underserved entrepreneurs right here in the U.S. These are investments in people who traditional banks have written off.

The Ripple Effect

Women supported by Kiva’s partners like KIVA Oregon report improved confidence, financial decision-making ability, and stronger capacity to achieve their financial goals. Additional research on women’s financial inclusion shows that when women have access to financial services, the impact extends beyond individual businesses. When women entrepreneurs succeed, they hire locally. They source from other small businesses. They reinvest profits back into their communities.

The Numbers Tell a Story

The statistics paint a clear picture of rural Oregon’s entrepreneurial potential:

26 loans totaling almost $279,500
46 jobs created as a result of technical assistance
57 jobs retained due to technical assistance
44 new businesses started by clients
112 businesses in operation, ranging from farms to restaurants to healthcare practices

Tools for the Road Ahead

Building a business in rural Oregon means solving problems that MBA programs don’t teach. How do you scale when your nearest customer is 50 miles away? How do you compete with Amazon when your strength is knowing every customer by name? How do you plan for growth when your revenue depends on weather patterns?

These are the kinds of questions we tackle in our CO.STARTERS Bootcamps happening across Oregon this fall. Whether it’s a two-day intensive in Grants Pass or a four-week deep dive in Redmond, St. Helens, Florence, and Cave Junction, these programs are built for entrepreneurs who need practical answers, not theoretical frameworks.

The curriculum moves fast: Discover what you’re really solving. Promote in ways that actually work. Build systems that don’t require you to do everything. Launch with confidence.

Registration is free, but spots fill up. You can find details and register here.

The Long Game

Through our work with KIVA Oregon, we’ve seen firsthand what happens when rural women get the capital and support they need. They build resilient communities. They create opportunities for their neighbors. They prove that rural doesn’t mean left behind.

The women we work with are taking charge, rolling up their sleeves, and transforming their communities, one loan, one business, one success story at a time.

Want to learn more about supporting rural entrepreneurs or applying for a Kiva loan? Visit our website or join us at an upcoming CO.STARTERS Bootcamp. The best time to invest in rural communities is right now.

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