Kiva Iowa

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Kiva Iowa Kiva Iowa helps diverse and vibrant small businesses all across the state access affordable capital and small business resources.

10/08/2026

🗓 SAVE THE DATE: October 28, 2026!

Mark your calendars for a special 1 Million Cups Cedar Rapids event: Small Business Roundtable ft. Iowa State Auditor & gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand (Rob Sand for Iowa) plus Czech Village & New Bohemia district (The District: Czech Village & New Bohemia) updates with Monica Vernon!

We’re bringing local innovators and state leadership together for a direct, focused conversation on small business, startups, and economic growth in Iowa.

💬 Have a question for Rob Sand? We are taking questions in advance! Submit your question here: https://forms.gle/6HWKcXy46bZfUzbZ9 (Note: 1 question per person; strictly focused on small business/entrepreneurship topics).

⚠️ Attendance is FREE, but strictly capped at 100 seats! Save yours: https://newbo.co/event/1mccr-small-business-roundtable-ft-rob-sand/

📍 African American Museum of Iowa (55 12th Ave SE Cedar Rapids, IA)

⏰ Special Start Time: Coffee at 8:00 AM | Roundtable starts at 8:30 AM

For Aminatha, cooking has always been about more than food — it’s about bringing people together. 🫶 She learned to cook ...
10/08/2026

For Aminatha, cooking has always been about more than food — it’s about bringing people together. 🫶 She learned to cook alongside her mother in her catering business, building a love for hospitality that she eventually brought with her to Iowa.

Today, through Jambo African Cuisine, Aminatha shares fresh, homemade East African dishes across the Des Moines area — from farmers markets and local festivals to weddings and corporate events. 🥘

With demand growing, Aminatha is taking her next big step. Her fully funded Kiva loan is helping her invest in commercial kitchen equipment, inventory, and marketing to expand her capacity. This is all moving her closer to her ultimate goal: opening a permanent restaurant space! 🍽️✨

We love seeing local entrepreneurs turn a lifelong passion into a thriving business. We can’t wait to see what’s next for Aminatha and Jambo African Cuisine! 🌟

💡 Are you an Iowa-based entrepreneur looking for zero-interest funding that can help your small business grow? Visit https://newbo.co/kiva/ to learn if a Kiva loan could be the right fit for you!

The Deal Pit is officially OPEN in Clinton, Iowa! 🎈🛒Owner Maria turned years of retail leadership into a business of her...
10/01/2026

The Deal Pit is officially OPEN in Clinton, Iowa! 🎈🛒

Owner Maria turned years of retail leadership into a business of her own, creating a discount bin store where shoppers can score amazing finds at unbeatable prices — starting fresh every week with prices dropping daily from $12 down to $1! 🛍️✨

After managing a local bin store, Maria realized how much she missed retail: connecting with customers and creating a space people love returning to. When that store closed, she saw her moment to bring her own vision to life — a welcoming, fun, and affordable spot where every visit brings a brand new treasure hunt.

With support from her Kiva loan, Maria secured the essential inventory, shopping bins, shelving, checkout counters, registers, and security equipment needed to open her doors.

Clinton, your next great deal is waiting! 🥳 Join us in congratulating Maria and wishing The Deal Pit endless success.

👉 Check out weekly pricing and plan your treasure hunt at https://thedealspit.com/!

For David Robinson, his business, Simple Vending LLC., is about much more than snacks and drinks — it’s about ownership,...
09/24/2026

For David Robinson, his business, Simple Vending LLC., is about much more than snacks and drinks — it’s about ownership, opportunity, and building generational wealth. ⚡

After launching Simple Vending through his own journey into financial education, David now provides customized vending services to businesses, nonprofits, and community spaces across the Iowa City area and beyond.

As his business grows, David plans to pay it forward by using his experience to mentor others in financial literacy and entrepreneurship — showing his community that business ownership is within reach. 🫶

With support from his Kiva loan, David purchased new machines and upgraded existing equipment to expand his footprint and boost efficiency.

We’re proud to back your vision. Keep building, David! 🚀

Fall is the perfect time to get to know ABC Acres all Iowa-made Specialty Food and Gift shop! 🎃🍂Abby, a 4th-generation f...
09/17/2026

Fall is the perfect time to get to know ABC Acres all Iowa-made Specialty Food and Gift shop! 🎃🍂

Abby, a 4th-generation farmer, has built ABC Acres from a simple roadside tomato stand 🍅 into a thriving farm-based business. What started four years ago as a flexible way to support her family while caring for them has grown into a cornerstone of local food, practical skills, and community. 🤝

Here’s what’s happening at the farm this season:

🌻 Seasonal Goods: Swing by for fresh produce, vibrant mums, local pumpkins, and handmade goods.

🥳 ABC Acres Fall Fest: Mark your calendars for October 9–11 for a weekend of fall fun!

🫶 Hands-On Learning: Abby is passionate about helping families reconnect with their food through hands-on education in gardening, scratch cooking, and self-sufficiency.

It has been a complete delight getting to know Abby, learning about the heart behind ABC Acres, and seeing her business thrive with the support of a Kiva loan! 🌾✨

Meet Chi — pharmacist, wife, mom, and founder of Lovely Hair Extensions! 💇‍♀️✨Chi built her business to help women at ev...
09/03/2026

Meet Chi — pharmacist, wife, mom, and founder of Lovely Hair Extensions! 💇‍♀️✨

Chi built her business to help women at every stage of life look and feel their absolute best with healthy hair products, wigs, and low-maintenance styles, including specialized solutions for women experiencing hair loss.

Now, she’s taking a huge leap: moving from online to opening her very first physical storefront! 🏪 A Kiva loan will help her stock inventory, buy essential equipment, and directly serve her local community.

You can help make her dream a reality. Lend to Chi’s Kiva campaign today and support her next chapter: http://www.kiva.org/lend/3225845

🛍️ Explore her collection: https://lovelyhair.shop/

Big moves for a local favorite! 🍧✨Ursula, creator of Snow Nouveau Botanical Shave Ice, is taking her business to the nex...
08/27/2026

Big moves for a local favorite! 🍧✨

Ursula, creator of Snow Nouveau Botanical Shave Ice, is taking her business to the next level. Blending her Big Island Hawai'i roots with her background in Sustainable Living from Maharishi University, she’s elevated traditional shave ice into a botanical dessert experience — crafted with organic herbal and fruit syrups. 🏝️

After two years of pop-ups throughout the Midwest, Snow Nouveau now has a permanent home inside Scream Ice Cream Shop's new spot on the Fairfield square! (Shoutout to fellow Kiva borrower, SCREAM! 🤝)

Ursula will continue running her mobile booth for events while serving up her signature eco-friendly, artisan treats on the square. 🌿🌺

Congratulations, Ursula! We’re so excited to see Snow Nouveau grow. 🤩

Hey All! We’re excited to announce a new partnership between Kiva U.S. and Operation HOPE, Inc. that expands the no-cost...
08/25/2026

Hey All! We’re excited to announce a new partnership between Kiva U.S. and Operation HOPE, Inc. that expands the no-cost business support available to entrepreneurs across our ecosystem.

Operation HOPE will be offering one-on-one business coaching, mentorship, workshops, business planning support, and guidance on financial planning and access to capital.

In recognition of Black Business Month, Operation HOPE’s One Million Black Businesses (1MBB) initiative is hosting the following virtual sessions. All sessions begin at 12:00 p.m. ET (11am CT). See below fliers for additional information!

🎉 FULLY FUNDED! Huge congratulations to Samantha Morrow on fully funding her Kiva loan for CLAY-MATIONS Studio! 🏺✨Samant...
08/18/2026

🎉 FULLY FUNDED! Huge congratulations to Samantha Morrow on fully funding her Kiva loan for CLAY-MATIONS Studio! 🏺✨

Samantha’s love for pottery started early, finding peace and purpose in the hands-on art of working with clay. After earning her BFA in Ceramics from Iowa State University, she turned her passion into a community hub right in Ames!

CLAY-MATIONS Studio offers family-friendly pottery instruction for all ages — including flexible, one-time lessons that were not previously available locally. Built around the concept of giving people the "Freedom to Create," Samantha handles all the messy cleanup so her guests can focus on socializing, connecting, and trying something new.

With her loan now 100% funded, Samantha is ready to upgrade and expand her studio space! We can't wait to see what she creates next. 💙

Meet Dominek & Quinton, the husband-and-wife duo behind Qddogs — a family-owned mobile food business bringing hot dogs, ...
08/11/2026

Meet Dominek & Quinton, the husband-and-wife duo behind Qddogs — a family-owned mobile food business bringing hot dogs, Polish sausages, burgers, chips, and drinks to local spots across Waterloo! 🌭 (Fun fact: the name Qddogs comes from combining Quinton and Dominek 🙂)

What started as a simple dream has grown into a mission centered on quality food, friendly service, and affordable meals — all while showing their kids that hard work and dedication pay off. 🍽️

Be a part of their growth and support journeys like theirs today: https://newbo.co/kiva/

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415 12th Avenue SE
Cedar Rapids, IA
52401

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