Sunshine Enterprises

Launched in 2021 by way of a multi-million dollar grant from PNC Bank, The Community Micro Equity Fund (CMEF), the first of its kind, creates the most comprehensive small business development and equity-like capital expansion program in Chicago, the region, and the nation. There is an Equity Capital Gap for Black, low-to-moderate income, and other diverse entrepreneurs. Additionally, individual wealth is closely tied to the ability of business owners to access capital. Initiated in the summer of 2021, the CMEF is a collaboration between Greenwood Archer Capital and Sunshine Enterprises that aims to address this gap by providing “equity-like” patient capital to leverage debt, or to offer when debt is not a viable option. In addition to providing capital ($25,000 loans on average), the CMEF provides a critical continuum of entrepreneurial education, coaching, and mentoring. All of this to ensure underserved businesses have the best chance of effectively utilizing the capital to grow and thrive. Long term, the CMEF is intended to be an evergreen fund while also capitalizing on future opportunities for investment towards increased loan capital and the highly critical entrepreneur support programming.