NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A newer nonprofit organization in Hampton Roads is investing in the community and hoping others will join it.
Local Initiatives Support Corporation ( LISC) is a national nonprofit organization that works to bridge the gap between underserved and underinvested communities with organizations, businesses, agencies, and other non-profits that are looking to help.
LISC Hampton Roads is new to the region, according to senior programming officer Naomi Gunnell, and started operating here in early 2020.
Gunnell says what helped bring them here was a partnership between Sentara Healthcare and Optima Healthcare that invested $100 million to move the needle on social determinants that impact healthy lifestyles such as access to education, jobs, and affordable housing.
“When COVID hit, we had to pivot understanding that immediate need for small businesses,” she said.
So, the organization, along with others, partnered with the City of Virginia Beach to start the Virginia Beach Relief Partnership to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19.