Our Story.
Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit guided by the belief that when small businesses succeed, everyone benefits. When we first opened our doors in 1990 as the North Carolina Minority Support Center, we were providing technical assistance to financial institutions and entrepreneurs, and in our first 20 years of service to our state, we administered millions of dollars in grants to help address the needs of unserved and underserved people and communities.
When the financial crisis of 2008 threatened Main Street firms across our state and nation, our leadership knew that we were in the position to not only double down on our work serving underserved communities, but to expand our services as well. We ushered in a new era for our work in 2011, when we made our first loan to a North Carolina small business, and eventually became a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in 2013. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic aftershocks, we doubled down once again and expanded our services to ensure that our state’s small businesses could succeed, and the communities they serve would benefit.
Since opening in 1990, we have met entrepreneurs at the crossroads of hardship and opportunity—and we will continue to light the way forward for whatever comes next.
Our Vision
To create economic opportunity for all people.
Our Mission
To foster economic development in underserved communities by providing capital, technical assistance, and policy research to light the way for small businesses.
Our Staff & Board
The passion for quality and excellence our team brings is reflected in our service to small business owners and entrepreneurs.
MEET THE BOARD
Huntley Garriott
CSBDF Board Chair; Executive Committee Chair; Governance Committee
Independent Consultant
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Tiffany Hall McNeill
CSBDF Board Secretary; Policy & Research Committee Chair
Economic Development Director
Town of Morrisville
Bobby Robinson
CSBDF Board Vice-Chair; Governance Committee Chair
Member
Maynard Nexsen
Rodrick Banks
CSBDF Policy & Research Committee, Governance Committee
Vice President and Community Relations Manager
Wells Fargo
Larry Garcia
CSBDF Credit Committee Chair; Business Solutions Committee
Retired from National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB)
Joseph L. Fox, Ed.D., M.B.A., PHR
CSBDF Business Solutions Committee Chair, Policy Research Committee
Principal
Fox Management Consulting Enterprises, LLC
Jeff Marshall
CSBDF Board Treasurer; Finance Committee Chair
Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking Officer
TowneBank
Pilar Rocha-Goldberg
CSBDF Governance Committee
President and CEO
El Centro Hispano, Inc.
Stephen Dille
CSBDF Finance Committee
Vice President of Finance and Administration
The Carolina Center for Medical Excellence
Merrill Flood
CSBDF Policy & Research Committee
Director, Millennial Campus Planning & Local Community Affairs
East Carolina University
Leslie Person
CSBDF Business Solutions Committee
Senior Vice President
Pinnacle Financial Partners
Brian Hedges
CSBDF Credit Committee
Executive Vice President and CCO
North State Bank
Sedrick McCallum
CSBDF Credit Committee
Senior Vice President and Community Development Officer
SouthState Bank
Raymond Chinn
CSBDF Finance Committee
Managing Director and Senior Vice President
Bank of America
Robyn Lake Hamilton
CSBDF Policy & Research Committee
President and CEO
Urban League of Central Carolinas
Lori O'Keefe
President and CEO
Triangle Community Foundation
Tonya Portis
Owner
RAW Naturalellie LLC and The MICRO Loctitian, LLC
Randall Channing Jones
Executive Director of Economic Development
Robeson County, North Carolina
Kim Cameron
Executive Director
North Carolina A&T Real Estate Foundation
Interested in becoming a CSBDF Referral Partner?
By connecting with us, you can enjoy a multitude of benefits:
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Refer small businesses in need of funding
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Get referrals in return for your institution's services and products
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Boost your credibility and get more visibility in the process
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Don't miss out on this chance to grow and thrive together!
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Email Melissa Terrell at mterrell@carolinasmallbusiness.org for more info!