Thank you for your interest in joining the Urban Business Support Advisory Board! 

The vision of Urban Business Support is “development without displacement.” We recognize the benefits of economic development in low-income communities, but we aim to curb the negative impacts of gentrification- small business displacement and uneven distribution of investment capital. Our mission is to provide local business owners the resources necessary to retain diversity of business ownership in economically developing neighborhoods. A Tacoma-based 501(c)(3), Urban Business Support provides leadership development, business skills education, personal and business financial budgeting, financial assistance, and mentorship to small business owners in neighborhoods that are currently or on the verge of experiencing gentrification. The skills Urban Business Support imparts provide the tools for small businesses to adapt, survive, and thrive in the changing marketplace emerging around them.  

Please fill out and submit this application to oliver@urbanbizsps.org if we sound like an effort you would like to support with:

●     A bi-monthly meeting of a couple of hours,

●     Access to personal and business financial resources to contribute to the organization,

●     Outreach and networking to community and business partners,

●     Strategic planning,

●     Board development,

●     Staffing/HR,

●     Program development,

●     Financial management,

●     Fundraising & Grant writing,

●     Education/Training,

●     Accounting,

●     Small business lending experience,

●     Legal support,

●     Loan Underwriting,

●     Volunteer Management,

●     Political lobbying, and especially

●     Devotion to the cause.