Latino Economic Development Center

What Latino Economic Development Center does

Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) community development financial institution (CDFI) founded in 1991 and headquartered in Washington, DC. It operates five offices across the DC-Maryland-Virginia region with an additional office in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, and serves approximately 51-100 employees. LEDC's mission is to drive economic growth by equipping individuals and small business owners—primarily within Latino and other underserved communities—with the skills, credit, and capital needed to achieve financial prosperity through homeownership and entrepreneurship.

LEDC's product suite spans three departments: Small Business, Housing, and Direct Community Investments. Small business offerings include tiered loan products—LEDC SEED (up to $5,000), LEDC Startup (up to $20,000), LEDC Growth (up to $250,000), the NextGen Impact Fund for home improvements ($3,000-$50,000 powered by SELF), credit-builder loans (CrediFirst, Resilience), and its proprietary peer-based Lending Circles program. Housing services include HUD-certified counseling, homebuyer education, down payment assistance (including the new Freedom Bank Foundation DPA program), tenant rights education, and foreclosure prevention. Grant programs such as the Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grant ($10,000-$50,000), Restaurant Resilience & Growth Grant ($10,000), and Flourish Collective extend the product surface to specialized cohorts including women food entrepreneurs and disaster-impacted businesses.

The revenue model combines interest and fee income from lending (rates from 4.5% APR for credit-builders up to 10.5% on personal loans, plus 1-3% closing fees), foundation and corporate grants (Citi Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Freedom Bank Foundation, Eva Longoria Foundation, USDA), and technical assistance/program fees. LEDC's go-to-market is community-led and partnership-driven: clients are acquired via referrals from chambers of commerce, LISC, and economic development corporations, supplemented by workshops, in-person counseling across bilingual (English/Spanish) offices, and direct outreach. The organization holds CDFI certification from the U.S. Treasury and HUD-Certified Housing Counseling Agency designation, with leadership under CEO Emi Reyes and board representation from Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and ServiceNow.

Name

Latino Economic Development Center

Legal name

Latino Economic Development Center

Website

https://ledcmetro.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Latino Economic Development Center is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit CDFI, founded in 1991, providing microloans, business advice, credit building, housing counseling, and grants to Latino and underserved small business owners and families across the DC-MD-VA region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Financial Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Development Credit Unions (CDCUs) (FSABAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI), Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans) (FSALAKAF)

Keywords

• Community development financial services
• Small business microloans
• Housing counseling services
• Credit builder loans
• Financial empowerment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest and Fees: LEDC generates revenue through interest on business loans ranging from $500 to $250,000 (rates as low as 6.5%), closing fees of 1-3%, and credit-builder loans at 4.5% APR. The organization functions as an SBA and USDA intermediary lender.
2. Grants and Donations: As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, LEDC receives grants from foundations (Citi Foundation, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Freedom Bank Foundation), government sources, and individual donations to support programs and operations.
3. Program Fees and Technical Assistance: Revenue generated through fees for housing counseling, financial empowerment workshops, business training programs, and technical assistance services provided to entrepreneurs and families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) is a private nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and HUD-Certified Housing Counseling agency founded in 1991 that provides microloans ($500-$250,000), credit-builder loans, business advice and coaching, homebuyer education, housing counseling, tenant services, and direct grants to Latino and underserved small business owners and families in the DC-MD-VA region. Its integrated service model combines alternative-underwriting financing with bilingual technical assistance and housing support, anchored by 30+ years of community trust and partnerships with foundations, government agencies, and corporations.

Product overview

LEDC is a private nonprofit CDFI established in 1991 serving the DC-MD-VA region. The organization offers an integrated suite of financial products and services organized into three core departments: Small Business (loans, business advice, credit building), Housing (counseling, tenant services, down payment assistance), and Direct Community Investments (grants and specialized programs). Small business financing includes LEDC Growth Loans (up to $250K for established businesses), LEDC Startup Loans (up to $20K), LEDC SEED Loans (up to $5K), and credit-building products (LEDC CrediFirst and Resilience Loans). The InBusiness Program provides advising and coaching alongside capital. Specialized programs include the Food Venture Initiative with Incubator and Accelerator tracks, The Flourish Collective for women food entrepreneurs, the NextGen Impact Fund for home improvements ($3K-$50K), and grant programs like Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grants ($10K-$50K) and Restaurant Resilience Grants ($10K). The Financial Empowerment Center provides workshops and one-on-one coaching. LEDC is a HUD-certified Housing Counseling agency and SBA/USDA intermediary lender.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Level Up DC: Wealth Within Reach: A cohort-based lending program for DC residents aged 18-24 to build credit and savings
• Restaurant Resilience & Growth Grant
• Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grant
• The Flourish Collective
• NextGen Impact Fund Loan
• Financial Empowerment Center

Products and services

• LEDC Growth Loan
• LEDC Startup Loan
• LEDC SEED Loan
• LEDC CrediFirst
• LEDC Resilience Loan
• NextGen Impact Fund Loan
• InBusiness Program
• Food Venture Initiative
• The Flourish Collective
• LEDC Down Payment Assistance Program
• LEDC Homebuyer's Club
• Financial Empowerment Center
• Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grant
• Restaurant Resilience & Growth Grant
• Level Up DC: Wealth Within Reach

Quantifiable outcome

• 15-25% revenue increases across participating small businesses
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Freedom Bank FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Freedom Bank Foundation launched the Freedom Down Payment Assistance (DPA) Program in Northern Virginia, administered in partnership with LEDC. The program aims to reduce financial barriers for first-time homebuyers and expand support for underrepresented families. The initiative follows the Foundation raising over $500,000 and signing a new MOU with LEDC.
• LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLISC partnered with LEDC as one of the coaching providers in the $500,000 small business support program created by Greater Washington Community Foundation and PNC in Prince George's County, Maryland.
• Prince George's Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with LEDC in the small business support program to help 17 small businesses navigate disruptions from major transit infrastructure construction.
• Prince George's County Economic Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with LEDC and other partners to deliver the small business support program combining capital grants and business coaching.
• Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of three designated small business grant partners for Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grant Program. AAEDC serves businesses in Anne Arundel County and other areas in Maryland.
• Baltimore Community Lending (BCL)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of three designated small business grant partners for Key Bridge Small Business Direct Grant Program. BCL serves businesses in Baltimore City and other areas in Maryland.
• Eva Longoria FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting The Flourish Collective program, designed to empower women entrepreneurs in the culinary sector.
• SELF (Solar Energy Financing)coreTechnology or IntegrationLEDC's NextGen Impact Fund Loan is powered by SELF, providing unsecured loans for home improvement projects including energy efficiency, solar, and storm resilience.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• LiftFund: San Antonio-based nonprofit CDFI providing microloans and small business loans to underserved entrepreneurs, including a significant Latino borrower base across Texas and the Southeast. Directly comparable as a CDFI lending institution with similar microloan product structure and bilingual community outreach.
• Accion Opportunity Fund: National nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans up to $100K and support services to underserved entrepreneurs, with a strong focus on Latino, Black, and immigrant business owners. Directly comparable mission and product offering to LEDC's small business lending program.
• DreamSpring: Albuquerque-headquartered nonprofit CDFI providing microloans (typically under $50K) to entrepreneurs across the Southwest, with a strong focus on Latino and immigrant small business owners. Comparable as a CDFI with bilingual underwriting and community-based service delivery.
• Grameen America: National nonprofit microfinance organization providing small loans to women entrepreneurs in underserved communities, using group-lending methodology. Comparable to LEDC's Lending Circles program and credit-builder loan products targeting similar demographics.
• CDC Small Business Finance: San Diego-based nonprofit CDFI providing SBA 504 and conventional small business loans to underserved entrepreneurs. Directly comparable as a CDFI SBA intermediary lender with similar product mix and community development mission.
• TruFund Financial Services: Nonprofit CDFI providing loans, training, and technical assistance to small businesses and nonprofits in underserved communities across the South and Northeast. Comparable as a regional CDFI with both lending and capacity-building services.
• Justine PETERSEN: St. Louis-based nonprofit CDFI providing microloans, housing counseling, and credit-building services to underserved populations. Closely comparable integrated model of small business lending, housing counseling, and financial empowerment that mirrors LEDC's three-department structure.

Emerging players

• National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB): National membership organization of Latino-focused CDFIs and community development corporations. Comparable ecosystem-level focus on Latino economic empowerment, though operates as an intermediary/association rather than a direct lender.

Broad incumbents

• City First Bank: CDFI-certified community development bank serving DC and broader Mid-Atlantic with small business lending and community development services. Comparable geographic footprint and CDFI designation, though structured as a regulated bank rather than a nonprofit.
• Self-Help / Self-Help Federal Credit Union: Major CDFI network providing small business loans, mortgages, and credit-building services to underserved borrowers nationwide. Comparable mission and product set, though significantly larger scale and includes credit union structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ledcmetro
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ledcmetro
• Facebookfacebook.com/ledcmetro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ledcmetro
• Instagraminstagram.com/ledcmetro

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Latino Economic Development Center