Seedco in the News

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Welcome to the Seedco in the News page. Here you'll find stories written about Seedco.

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[Video]	www.whitehouse.gov President Bush Participates in Roundtable on Housing Counseling [Transcript Online] July 1, 2008 President George W. Bush visits an affiliate of Seedco's Housing Counseling network, the Family Services Agency in Little Rock, A.R., as part of a roundtable discussion on housing counseling.
	Daily News Project Home looks to keep Lower East Side residents in their homes [Article Online] June 22, 2008 An affiliate of Seedco's Housing Counseling network in New York City, Project Home by University Settlement, was profiled about their homelessness and eviction prevention services in the Lower East Side.
	New York Post Fostering Fathers NYC Seeks to Bolster Families [Article Online] June 16, 2008 Op/Ed by Robert Doar, New York City Commissioner of Human Resources Administration, in support of the Fatherhood Initiative to reduce poverty and help non-custodial fathers become better parents.
	The New York Sun Fatherhood: What Have I Done? [Article Online] June 13, 2008 Op/Ed on the state of fatherhood in America today, with a mention of how Seedco is helping fathers enter the workforce and resume child support payments.
	Daily News Microlenders help immigrants start businesses [Article Online] June 8, 2008 A profile of Seedco's work helping immigrants start small businesses through its New York City Business Solutions Centers.
	Community Dividends EarnBenefits Leads Clients to Self-Sufficiency Spring 2008 A profile of Seedco’s EarnBenefits program in Tennessee.
	Philantro Media Globalization Cuts Both Ways When It's About Anti-Poverty [Article Online] April 24, 2008 A post about Opportunity NYC, the pilot program initiated by Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office and implemented by Seedco.
	City Limits Investigates TARGET OF OPPORTUNITIES: The Promise and Pitfalls of the Mayor's Poverty Plan Spring 2008 A profile of Opportunity NYC, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's anti-poverty initiative implemented by Seedco.
	NPR Non-Profits Become Key Lenders in New Orleans [Listen to audio clip] March 30, 2008 A profile of Seedco Financial's work in Louisiana helping small businesses affected by Hurricane Katrina and Rita.
	The New York Times Swift Steps Help Avert Foreclosures in Baltimore [Article Online] March 26, 2008 An affiliate of Seedco’s Housing Counseling in Baltimore, Maryland, Belair-Edison Neighborhood Initiative, was profiled in The New York Times as a model for successful home foreclosure counseling.
[Video]	CNN "Your Money" [Full Screen] February 13, 2008 A profile of one of Seedco's Housing Counseling affiliates, Southeast Community Development Corporation, from Baltimore, Maryland, about foreclosure counseling.
	NYC Workforce Weekly Fresh Direct Offers Cool Jobs at Growing Pay Rates [Article Online] February 8, 2008 A profile of Fresh Direct’s hiring practices. Fresh Direct has increased their employee retention by 60 percent through the use of better hiring practices by Seedco.
	Science Magazine Money--With Strings--to Fight Poverty [Article Online] - by subscription only February 8, 2008 A profile of the conditional cash transfer program in Mexico, Oportunidades, and in New York City, Opportunity NYC. Seedco is leading the implementation of Opportunity NYC.
	USA Today Bloomberg incentive chases King's dream [Article Online] January 25, 2008 A column about Opportunity NYC, the pilot program initiated by Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office and implemented by Seedco.
	Maclean's We Pay Cash for Good Behaviour [Article Online] December 11, 2007 Opportunity NYC and other conditional cash transfer programs around the world were profiled in "We Pay Cash for Good Behaviour" by Dafna Izenberg in the December issue of Maclean's. Seedco is leading the implementation of Opportunity NYC, the conditional cash transfer program initiated by Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office.
[Video]	WNBC News 4 [Full Screen] December 15, 2007 Coverage of Seedco’s work on Opportunity NYC.
[Video]	BBC Newsline [Full Screen] November 16, 2007 A report on Seedco’s use of technology in implementing Opportunity NYC.
	Brooklyn Daily Eagle City Launches ‘EarnMore’ Program for Skill-Building and Job Retention [Article Online] November 16, 2007 A profile of Seedco’s EarnMore Career Advancement Program.
	The New York Times Climbing Some Steps on the Pay Ladder [Article Online] November 11, 2007 A profile of Seedco’s EarnMore Career Advancement Program.
	NYC Workforce Weekly EarnMore Career Advancement Gains Traction [Article Online] November 9, 2007 A profile of Seedco’s EarnMore Career Advancement Program.
	The Cincinnati Post Round II in the war on poverty [Article Online] October 29, 2007 Op/Ed on Seedco’s two decades of efforts against poverty.
	USA Today Smaller Businesses still Struggle to Bounce Back [Article Online] August 29, 2007 Coverage of Seedco Financial’s role in helping struggling businesses on the Gulf Coast
	Gotham Gazette Cash Incentives for the Poor [Article Online] August 2007 A profile of Seedco’s Opportunity NYC program
	The New York Times Restaurateurs-to-Be Look Before Leaping [Article Online] August 8, 2007 A profile of Seedco's New York City Restaurant Management Boot Camp.
	The Memphis Daily News Bradley Works to Find Solutions for Homeowner Issues in Memphis [Article Online] June 15, 2007 Profile of an affiliate of Seedco’s Housing Counseling network
	The Chronicle of Philanthropy Charities' Business Ventures Hard to Sustain, Study Finds [Article Online] - by subscription only June 14, 2007 Coverage of Seedco Policy Center’s report on social enterprise
	The Wall Street Journal A Fresh Perspective on Social Enterprise June 1, 2007 Coverage of Seedco Policy Center’s report on social enterprise
	The Commercial Appeal Screener fills in safety net April 5, 2007 A profile of Seedco’s EarnBenefits program in Tennessee
	Downtown Express Tax Relief for Century 21 Workers [Article Online] April 6-12, 2007 A profile of Seedco’s New York City tax preparation program for low-wage workers
	Interchange: The Southeastern Council on Foundations Helping Low-Wage Workers Find Elusive Benefits March 2007 A profile of Seedco's EarnBenefits program.
	Crain's At Deadline February 19-25, 2007 Small blurb in Crain's New York Business about Seedco expanding its tax preparation services for New York City small business employees.
	New Orleans CityBusiness Seedco Offers $1M in loan relief October 9, 2006 Seedco Financial Services' Loan relief initiatives in New Orleans are highlighted.
	The Commercial Appeal Dream weavers—Low-income home buyers get help from The Works September 26, 2006 Coverage of Seedco's community housing network in Memphis that assists low-wage workers in becoming homeowners.
	The Journal Viet Ventures September 22, 2006 Coverage of Seedco Financial Services’ assistance to Vietnamese-American businesses in New Orleans, Louisiana.
	The Times-Picayune Stepping Up To The Plate August 25, 2006 Seedco Financial Services' New Orleans Vietnamese-American business and Restaurant Recovery initiatives are highlighted.
	The Times-Picayune Business grants to be awarded August 25, 2006 Seedco Financial Services cited as providing comprehensive assistance to small-businesses in New Orleans.
	Daily News Loans help lighten blackout losses August 10, 2006 A profile of a small business in Queens assisted by Seedco Financial Services' Northwest Queens Emergency Business Loan Program, administered on behalf of the City of New York.
	The Commercial Appeal Seeds of change- Nonprofit allocates $40 million for Tennessee August 3, 2006 A profile of Seedco's work in Memphis including its economic development initiatives and its EarnBenefits program that facilitates low-wage workers' access to benefits.
	The Memphis Downtowner Sowing Seeds August 2006 A profile of Seedco's work in Memphis, including its EarnBenefits and Memphis Affordable Homeownership programs.
	The New York Times Bloomberg Cancels Trip and Leans on Con Edison July 27, 2006 Seedco Financial Services is named as administrator of the the City of New York's emergency lending program to Queens businesses affected by the blackout.
	Nashville Business Journal Money to invest: Nonprofit group eyes large-scale projects July 2006 Laura Seidell, Vice President of Seedco and Bill Grinker, president of Seedco Financial Services (SFS) discuss how SFS' new $40 million New Market Tax Credit Treasury allocation will aid Seedco's comprehensive strategy for community development in the South.
	New York Enterprise Report Seedco Has $24 Million for NYC Small Business Loans March/April 2006 The announcement of Seedco Financial Services' loan program targeted to small businesses in NYC that experience difficulty in accessing capital.
	Crain's New York Business MTA-displaced get loans Seedco provides $3 million in help to firms relocation for new transit hub March 20-26, 2006 This article announces the launch of Seedco and Seedco Financial Services' new program to provide low interest loans, wage subsidies and technical assistance to small businesses still being affected by disruptions in Lower Manhattan following the September 11th attacks.
	Crain's New York Business Seedco to grow NY lending Nonprofit launches unit with increased loan funding; 3 programs for NYC December 12, 2005 This article announces the establishment of Seedco Financial Services, a subsidiary of Seedco that will house its expanding loan fund operations.
	The Commercial Appeal Downtown hotel project secures financing Developers ready to get going on Westin Beale December 1, 2005 This front-page article describes the central role that a non-profit, Seedco Financial Services, has taken in funding Memphis' new major downtown development: The Westin Beale hotel project.
	Newsday Profile: William Grinker Citylife November 6, 2005 Profile of William Grinker, CEO of Seedco Financial Services featuring a short biography as well as his views on the impact of Seedco and SFS
	The New York Times Reining in Welfare, but at a Lower Volume The Bloomberg Record November 1, 2005 Diane L. Baillargeon, President and CEO of Seedco, is quoted.
	The Wall Street Journal Small Business Recovery: Lessons from 9/11 Manager’s Journal September 27, 2005 Opinion piece by William Grinker detailing the way in which Seedco’s 9/11 small business recovery program in lower Manhattan provides lessons for rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina.
	The New York Times Words of Advice from Companies Upended from 9/11 Small Business September 20, 2005 William Grinker, CEO of Seedco Financial Services, is quoted.

Hoy
Empresarios
Una estilista a prueba de todo
April 5, 2005
Entrepreneur Olga Diaz is profiled and discusses the crucial $25,000 loan Seedco provided to keep her salon afloat after 9/11.

New York City Newsday
Job Market Growing Pains
More positions are open but matching needs of employers to employees’ skill levels is still difficult
March 31, 2005
Bill Grinker is quoted on the challenge of matching would-be workers to employers’ needs in this article on employment in New York City. Grinker is also Newsday’s "Quote of the Day."

The Network Journal
Accessing Capital: There’s New Money for "New Markets" Businesses
February 2005
Seedco CEO William Grinker and CFO Grady Hedgespeth are quoted in this article on New York City recipients of New Markets Tax Credits, and discuss the kinds of deals Seedco is seeking for its NMTCs.

Memphis Commercial Appeal
EarnBenefits Online to Aid Working Poor
December 31, 2004
This article discusses the status of fundraising efforts for the launch of the Web-based component of EarnBenefits in Memphis.

New York City Newsday
Low pay, few benefits and inadequate raises have many workers scrambling to keep up
December 19, 2004
This story quotes Seedco President Diane Baillargeon on the increasing strain of making it in New York City on a low hourly wage, and discusses Seedco’s EarnBenefits program.

www.LowerManhattan.info
Childcare Vouchers for Downtown Workers, Residents
December 14, 2004
This article discusses Seedco’s Liberty Zone Childcare Facilitated Enrollment Program, through which residents and employees of businesses south of 14th Street can obtain vouchers that cover up to $5,000 per year in payments to childcare or after-school providers.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal
Seedco to Feed City $2 million
November 16, 2004
The November 16 edition of the Memphis Commercial Appeal features a story about Seedco's expanded work in Memphis. Seedco CEO Bill Grinker and several local partners are quoted.

Crain’s NYC Business
New Aid Model Grows from 9/11 Ashes
November 1, 2004
Seedco CEO William J. Grinker discusses the ways financial and technical aid reinforce each other to give small businesses in Lower Manhattan a better chance of staying afloat than either form of assistance can offer alone.

The Wall Street Journal
Incentives in Lower Manhattan: Three Years after Attacks, Aid Still Is Available to Keep and Attract Firms
September 7, 2004
Seedco CEO William J. Grinker is quoted in this WSJ column on the financial and technical aid still available to small businesses in Lower Manhattan three years after September 11, 2001.

www.LowerManhattan.info
Seedco Ends Downtown Initiative with Self Review
August 24, 2004
A feature article on New York City’s official Web site for news and information on Lower Manhattan discusses A Support Strategy for Small Businesses, Seedco’s publication detailing its technical assistance initiative for Downtown’s smallest basic service and retail businesses after 9/11.

Memphis Commercial Appeal
Effort to target low-income workers, publicize benefits
June 15, 2004
Maintaining continuous employment is a critical factor in achieving long-term self-sufficiency for people in low-wage entry-level jobs. Although income enhancements--earned income tax credits and childcare subsidies--are needed for low-wage workers to stay employed, most workers find it difficult to access these benefits and as a result, government benefits are under-utilized. The Commercial Appeal reported on the rollout of EarnBenefits Memphis / Shelby County, Seedco's initiative designed to streamline access to benefits.

Affordable Housing Finance
NMTCs to Help Build High-tech Incubator
May 2004
Seedco's first New Markets Tax Credits deal sees a $5.4 investment that will be used to lower the cost of financing the development of a high-tech business incubator in the heart of inner-city Detroit.

New York Times Metro Section
Where Blue Collars Grow Endangered
June 24, 2003

National Public Radio/Marketplace
Arts Nonprofit Side Biz
June 9, 2003
This piece, which aired nationally, quotes Seedco CEO William J. Grinker in its discussion of a study commissioned by the Pew Charitable Trust showing that many U.S. nonprofits are operating side business ventures in support of their mission.

Albany Times Union
Loan Program Offers Help
June 6, 2003
This article covered local implementation of Seedco's Combating Predatory Lending initiative in the Capital District area of New York State.

New York Daily News
Sunset Park Workers Get New Shuttle
May 30, 2003

The World Journal
Free Night Bus to Work in Southwest Brooklyn
May 30, 2003

CNNfn
Morning Call
May 2, 2003
This segment spotlighted NVN grantee Project Reach Youth, a community-based organization in Brooklyn that operates a catering business to provide training in the culinary arts and employment to local youth.

CNNfn
Morning Call
April 21, 2003
In this segment of Morning Call, Bill Grinker was featured as the 'Maverick of the Morning' and spoke about the need for nonprofits to think about alternative funding sources including the development of for-profit businesses to fund their core missions. catering business to provide training in the culinary arts and employment to local youth.

Memphis Commercial Appeal
Grants to Help Workforce in Low-income Neighborhoods
April 3, 2003
In late March 2003, Seedco announced grants totaling $24,000 to three Memphis faith-based organizations. The grantees also received technical assistance through Seedco's United States Department of Labor-funded Workforce Development Capacity Building Institute for Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations.

New York Law Journal
Alternative Paths for Law Grads
March 28, 2003
This article spotlights three law school graduates, including Leila Edmonds, a mortgage loan consultant for Seedco, who have chosen to work in non-legal professions. The New York Law Journal is a daily news publication for the New York legal community.

Crain's New York Business
New Tax Credits Program Spurs Development
March 19, 2003
Seedco is one of five New York City-based organizations selected to receive a New Markets Tax Credit allocation for investment in low-income communities. The award, part of a national, $2.5 billion program to assist low-income communities across the nation, is allowing Seedco to attract private investment for many of its community-based ventures.

Chicago Tribune
Budget Delay Disrupts Nonprofits
March 15, 2003
Seedco CEO William J. Grinker is quoted on the potential impact of funding cuts on Chicago nonprofits. Grinker commented on the impact on small nonprofits "most vulnerable to losing ground" as a result of budget cuts.

Christian Science Monitor
Nonprofits Make Strides in Start-Up Arena
March 10, 2003
The Christian Science Monitor also profiled NVN.

The New York Times Metro Briefing
Manhattan 9/11 Aid for Nonprofit Groups
February 6, 2003
Seedco and the United Way announced the Community Organizations Financial Assistance Program (COFAP) to provide emergency loans to nonprofit and community-based organizations in lower Manhattan and other neighborhoods affected by the September 11th attacks.

Philanthropy News Digest
Seedco Report Spotlights Four Successful Nonprofit Business Models
January 13, 2003
Made possible with the support of the MetLife Foundation, "When Good Work Makes Good Sense" is based on an analysis of four community-based nonprofit organizations engaged in social purpose business ventures.

The New York Daily News
Papoo's is Back in Business
January 11, 2003
Papoo's, a family-owned small business in lower Manhattan which struggled to reopen after the attacks on the Trade Center, was back in business with assistance from Seedco and other organizations working to help small businesses recover after 9/11.

US Banker
Finally Some Help for New York City's Little Guys Tied Up in Red Tape
January 2, 2003
This article, on the difficulties that small businesses in lower Manhattan have had in accessing assistance and incentives, makes a lengthy reference to Seedco's Lower Manhattan Small Business & Workforce Retention Project (LMS&WRP).

Memphis Commercial Appeal
'Information Leads to Action'
Resource Center Brings it Home
December 11, 2002
This article focuses on a university-community technology partnership between the University of Memphis and city government to help families in distressed neighborhoods gain access to technology and information to improve their lives. The partnership is one of six case studies highlighted in Seedco's report, Opening the Door: Technology and the Development of University-Community Partnerships.

NPR: Small Biz
Weekend All Things Considered
February 17, 2002
This NPR story described the effect of 9/11 on small businesses around ground zero, and Seedco's efforts to assist them.

The Wall Street Journal
Around Ground Zero, An Effort to Rescue Mom-and Pop Shops
February 8, 2002
Seedco's efforts to assist Lower Manhattan small businesses recover from the World Trade Center disaster were featured in this page-one story, "Around Ground Zero, An Effort to Rescue Mom-and Pop Shops."

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