The Noble Pagan Forums - We're going to make our first Kiva Loan this week.

And you guys get to decide who to give it to.

Attached is a poll, simply select the loan requests you would like us to provide the money to. The one with the highest selection will get the loan.

We are concentrating on within the US at this time as we feel that it is best to help within our borders at first. We will expand as more donations to TNP come in.

Here are the potential loan receivers:

Location: New York, New York, USA
Loan Requested: $10,000.00
Money will be used for: To buy wholesale and sample sale clothing in bulk

Marta is from the Dominican Republic and used to work in a hospital as a nurse's aide. After she was injured on the job, she decided to take her home-based clothing retail business out of her apartment and flea markets, and open up her own shop. She used her savings to invest in her first storefront, where her daughter helps her out.

Marta feels empowered owning her own shop, and is happy that she has been able to learn how to keep her costs down and save money, which is one reason why she is requesting this loan. She plans to use it to purchase wholesale and sample sale clothing, which she can buy for lower prices in bulk.

Marta truly loves her job and says that, someday, she wants to be "as big as Macy's."
Kiva - Marta

Location: Berkely, California
Loan Requested: $10,000.00
Loan Use: To lease showroom space

Alix started buying used items and reselling them online as an after-school job in high school. Over time, she learned a lot about the fashion industry and founded “Apocalypse Vintage” in Portland, Oregon, two years ago. She began selling vintage clothing online and to local thrift stores and eventually employed a staff of seven people. For Alix, her company and vintage clothing represent a way for people to express their unique style and have a positive body image.

When the economy slowed down last year, Alix made the decision to downsize and move her business down to San Francisco, to take advantage of the more vibrant fashion industry in the Bay Area. With a $10,000 loan from Opportunity Fund, she recently signed a lease for a 9,000 square foot warehouse that will not only house her clothing inventory but also have space for fashion shows and photo shoots.

In the future, Alix hopes to sub-lease warehouse space out to other artists and develop a print production company. Asked where her business would be without Opportunity Fund, Alix is honest “I don’t know, but I think I would have had to grow much slower and put my dreams on hold.”

Visit: apocalypsevintage.com.
Kiva - Alix
Location: New York, New York, USA
Loan Requested: $5,000.00
Loan Use: Inventory of beauty products

Maria's home-based beauty supply retail business was started out of her desire to begin something on her own, proving to herself that she could succeed and earn money on her own. For five years, she has been testing the waters by selling skin care products in her native country, the Philippines. She now plans to start in the United States, since seeing that she has had success abroad.

In the Philippines, Maria's family manages her registered store, and she uses the income to support them. This business has been important for her family's well-being. In the past, they relied on her for remittances from the United States. They now feel empowered by being part of a business that they help to run.

Maria is ambitious and very determined. She wants to sell her products around the world, but plans to start in the U.S. The products she currently sells are new to the market, and she has been testing them out with her customers for two years, putting a lot of time into skin care product education.
Kiva - Maria

Location: Utah, USA
Loan Requested: $10,000.00
Loan Use: To buy a cooking range, freezer, fryer, and other equipment; neon sign for store

Opening a Chinese restaurant might seem to be a unique calling for a guy who is originally from Mexico, but Jose takes pride in the fact that his restaurant is the only Chinese restaurant in his neighborhood. He always knew he wanted to run his own restaurant, and when the restaurant he used to work at was forced to close down, he started up a new one in the same building.

Even with the recession, Jose says the business has done well, especially because of his unique status. He wants to take advantage of the fact that many restaurants are closing and that he is able to get their old equipment on sale. He also wants to invest in new equipment for the restaurant, like a cooking range, freezer, and deep fryer.

In the future, Jose sees himself opening another branch of his restaurant, or possibly a second restaurant. Having a restaurant is a lot of work - Jose says that "having a restaurant is like having another wife," but thankfully his wife works at the restaurant as well. Overall, Jose says having his own place has been good for his personal life - he can be his own boss, and he has gotten to know many more people in his community as a result.
Kiva - Jose
For more information regarding our Kiva Loans Program: The Noble Pagan - Kiva Loans Program

Now that you've read up on them, who gets the loan?

Alright, our first Kiva Loan was submitted. By way of your donations to TNP we were able to provide Jose (whom you chose as the recipient of this month's loan) $50 towards his loan goal amount. As more donations are provided to TNP, we will be able to loan more towards Kiva entrepreneurs as well as do this more often. Remember, we will be using 100% of all donations to TNP to fund different Kiva loans through Imbolc, 2010.

For more information on our Kiva loans program:
The Noble Pagan - Kiva Loans Program

The Noble Pagan on Kiva:
Kiva - Loans that change lives

If you are a Kiva loan provider already (or want to help out as an individual) join our team:
Kiva - Kiva Lending Team: The Noble Pagans