Stories

LEAF has approved a loan for Rhode Island food cooperative Urban Greens Co-Op Market. Located on Cranston Street in Providence. The market provides local, healthy food to consumers of all income levels. The Co-op opened on June 27, 2019 and…

Last month, our Managing Director of Strategy & Development, Amine Benali, wrote an opinion editorial responding to a New York Times article about an Amherst, MA student journalist’s exposė on prison labor contracts in MA public schools. One of LEAF’s…

This summer, LEAF is saying its goodbyes to two of its full-time employees and its amazing Quaker Voluntary Service Fellow. At the same time, LEAF would like to welcome its three newest team members!  Nathan Hixson, our former Director of…

James Razsa, Co-founder and CEO of Democracy Brewing shares how Impact Investing contributed to his dream of opening a democratically-owned brewery The LEAF team has been attending so many engaging and informative events these past few months and we’d like…

Customers viewing the selection of goods and foods inside Boston Public Market This month LEAF partnered with Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI) to provide financing for the Boston Public Market at Haymarket Station. The Market, which opened in 2015, is an…

Participants at the gathering in Worcester shared a light breakfast before the first activity The LEAF team has been attending so many engaging and informative events these past few months and we’d like to share our takeaways with you! This…

A customer reaches for avocados inside Mello’s Supermarket in Lawrence Last month, NBC Boston did a report about how where you live can have a huge impact on your health. For example, food deserts in low-income areas can contribute to…

Paulette Ngachoko, Owner of Hapi African Gourmet, pouring Hapi’s signature creamy peanut sauce Last year, LEAF approved a loan to help Hapi Gourmet, a small business in Boston, finance the development of its African creamy peanut sauce product line. By…

Friends and supporters of the soon-to-open Filipino restaurant, Tanám, gather for a New Year’s Party In the mood for Filipino food? Well you’re in luck because Ellie Tiglao’s popular Filipino pop-up restaurant, Tanám, will be permanently open for business at…

LEAF has approved a loan to Cooperative Energy, Recycling, and Organics (CERO), to help continue their award-winning commercial composting service. Founded in 2012, CERO is a worker-owned cooperative located in Dorchester. The team is made up of dedicated, bilingual worker-owners…

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced $5 million in awards for its PRIME grant program, which funds training and technical assistance for disadvantaged micro-entrepreneurs. LEAF is very excited to announce that we were selected as one of the…