The JP UP date: JPMorgan Chase & JP Advance Minority Small Businesses

Katie ArnoldThe JP UP date

Number 37                                October 11, 2019                                            St. Louis

Justine PETERSEN and JPMorgan Chase Advance Small Businesses North of Delmar
Over 50 attendees packed EyeSeeMe African American Children’s Bookstore in University City this week
to hear from panelists discussing the triumphs and challenges of minority small businesses.  JPMorgan Chase invested $200,000 in an effort with Justine PETERSEN to bolster the financial health of small businesses located “North of Delmar.”  The collaboration focuses on enhancing the banking profile of entrepreneurs, specifically personal credit scores, with the ultimate goal of accessing safe and affordable capital to start and expand local businesses.  EyeSeeMe co-owners Pamela and Jeffrey Blair were joined on the panel by Erika Wright of JPMorgan Chase and a cameo appearance by University City Mayor Terry Crow.  Robert Boyle, Founder and CEO of Justine PETERSEN, and Rich Ryffel, Missouri Market Manager for J.P. Morgan Private Bank, were also in attendance.

Justine PETERSEN Recognizes National Small Business Women’s Month
Each week during the month of October, in recognition of National Women’s Small Business Month, we will feature a JP microbusiness client.  Tendai Robin Morris, aka The Hair Whisperer, is the President and CEO of Healthy Hair Solutions. The St. Louis Native and Justine PETERSEN client is using her micro-enterprise loan from JP to grow her business.  Currently, Tendai has 40 different hair care products that she is selling Nationwide via Amazon, Macy’s, and Healthy Hair Solutions.  Recently, Tendai has also incorporated a sales force of four reps that are servicing Salons all over the St. Louis Metropolitan area.  You can also find Healthy Hair Solutions at vendor events all over the United States.
Tendai is excited to press forward in the new year adding yet another leg of the Healthy Hair Solutions brand called Texture Talk.  This tour will be an extension of what was started here in St. Louis in 2014.  Tendai is “very thankful for the funds that were provided by JP because it allowed me to manifest different parts of my business like trademarking and proper tax help.”

Justine PETERSEN Participates in Monthly Financial Wellness Program at Urban Sprouts
Urban Sprouts Child Development Center is forever addressing the many facets of child and familial development.  Recently, the center launched a monthly financial wellness program for parents of the children that attend Urban Sprouts.  JP staffer Ben Feimer presented a comprehensive session on the importance of building personal credit scores that has led to follow-up appointments at the JP office where parents have their credit reports comprehensively reviewed and are coached on a credit action plan regarding next steps.  Urban Sprouts Child Development Center was financed jointly through a partnership of Justine PETERSEN and IFF, both local CDFIs (community development financial institutions).

They Came. They Partied. They Were Credit Counseled:  2019 Block Party Recap
Good food! Good beverages! A live DJ! And a bounce house!  All of the necessary ingredients for a fun and successful block party!  Our Small Business Showcase Block Party featured JP micro-clients and also offered attendees the opportunity to sign up for credit building and micro-enterprise counseling appointments.  And let’s not forget another necessary ingredient:  good weather!