Advancing Innovation and Fairness in Small Business Finance — Resources
This event was hosted by the Aspen Institute Business Ownership Initiative and the Responsible Business Lending Coalition March 24, 2025
Articles and Reports
Klein, Joyce. “We Protect Individuals From Predatory Lending Practices — Why Not Small Businesses Too?” The Hill. February 16, 2022.
Simmons, Bret, et al. “Assessing the Value of Small Business Loan Programs and Loan Sales: Tools to Guide CDFI Decision-Making.” The Aspen Institute. June 28,2024.
Konson, Mickey, and Dave Wasik. “The Small Business Data Revolution: Reshaping Lending Decisions.” 2nd Order Solutions. June 14, 2023.
Weaver, Eric, et al. “Unaffordable and Unsustainable The New Business Lending on Main Street.” Accion Opportunity Fund. May 2016.
Videos
Klein, Joyce. “How to Make Small Business Loans Accessible and Fair.” The Aspen Institute. July 13, 2022.
Organizations and Additional Resources
Community Investment Management
California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity (CAMEO)
Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Responsible Business Lending Coalition
Small Business Loans and Support – Accion Opportunity Fund
About This Event
Ten years ago, when the Responsible Business Lending Coalition was founded, the nation was experiencing dramatic changes in the small business financing landscape, stemming in part from market adjustments after the Great Recession. Ten years later, the forces driving change are accelerating. The growth in new technologies, including AI; the aftermath of the COVID pandemic; and unprecedented growth in new small businesses starting are only some of the factors shaping the market.
Yet the challenge remains: how do we harness the power of technology and innovation to drive greater prosperity and inclusion for small business owners, while ensuring that financial products support small businesses rather than undermine them?
Sponsors
We thank our colleagues at Community Investment Management for their generous support of this event.
