Local Investment Opportunity Network (LION)

What Local Investment Opportunity Network (LION) does

Local Investment Opportunity Network (LION) is a community-based membership network founded in 2006 in East Jefferson County, Washington, that connects local entrepreneurs and nonprofits seeking capital with individual community investors. The organization is a program of EDC Team Jefferson (the Jefferson County Economic Development Council), hosted at 385 Benedict Street, Suite 2A, Port Townsend, WA, and operates with grant funding from that body. LION is explicitly not a loan or investment fund and does not make collective investment decisions; each of its ~68 members independently decides whether, where, and how to invest.

LION's core product is its Business Opportunity Submission System, which channels local for-profit and nonprofit applicants through EDC Team Jefferson and surfaces them to LION members. Complementary offerings include the LION Investor Membership Program (with a formal New Member Application and Membership Agreement), an Affordable Workforce Housing investment track launched in September 2022 with Housing Solutions Network, and a Local Investment Network Resources toolkit that helps other communities establish similar networks in partnership with WSU Extension, AWC's Center for Quality Communities, and the Washington State Microenterprise Association. The organization has no proprietary technology platform — applications are PDF-based, communications are email-driven, and member meetings are in-person.

LION's business model is non-commercial: it does not charge membership fees, does not price investments, and does not generate revenue. Its measurable outputs are social and economic — at least $9.4 million cumulatively invested by members across 276+ investments in 80+ local businesses and nonprofits (as of a 2019 survey, with 2024 figures updated in a May 2025 Impact Survey), at an average 5.2% interest, 5.3-year term, and $28,575 median investment, with 94% of investments structured as loans. The organization's go-to-market is community-led: public meetings, word-of-mouth, local media coverage in Peninsula Daily News, and ecosystem partnerships.

Name

Local Investment Opportunity Network (LION)

Legal name

EDC Team Jefferson (Economic Development Council for Jefferson County)

Website

https://jeffersonlion.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Short description

LION is a community-based membership network in East Jefferson County, Washington that connects local businesses and nonprofits seeking capital with individual investor-members who make independent investment decisions, operating as a program of EDC Team Jefferson.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Investment Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Development Credit Unions (CDCUs) (FSABAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Community investment networks
• Local investment facilitation
• Small business financing
• Workforce housing loans
• Economic development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Townsend

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership-based facilitation: LION is not a fund or lending institution and does not make collective investment decisions. The organization facilitates connections between local businesses seeking capital and individual investors. LION members make their own individual investment decisions. The organization operates with grant funding from Jefferson County Economic Development Council.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LION is a community-based local investment network that operates as a facilitation program rather than a fund. Local businesses, nonprofits, and homeowners submit Business Opportunity applications through EDC Team Jefferson; LION's 68+ individual investor members review those opportunities and make their own independent investment decisions, primarily as loans (94% of historical deals). The network also runs an Affordable Workforce Housing track in partnership with Housing Solutions Network and shares resources to help other Washington communities establish Local Investment Networks.

Product overview

LION (Local Investing Opportunities Network) is a community-based local investing network that operates as a single, integrated offering connecting local businesses with investor members. The core product is the Business Opportunity Submission System, through which local entrepreneurs apply for investment consideration from LION's investor membership. Supporting programs include the Investor Membership Program for recruiting and managing local investors, the Affordable Workforce Housing Program (a specialized investment track for housing), and Local Investment Network Resources for helping other communities establish similar networks. The network is not a loan fund and does not make collective investment decisions; individual members make their own investment choices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Opportunity Submission System Submission process for local entrepreneurs (for-profit and non-profit) in East Jefferson County to apply for community investment from LION's individual investor members. Applications are routed through EDC Team Jefferson and reviewed by members who make independent investment decisions, historically as loans at 5.2% average interest over 5.3 years with a $28,575 median size.
• LION Investor Membership Program Membership program for East Jefferson County citizens who want to invest their money locally in businesses, non-profits, and workforce housing projects. Members complete a New Member Application, sign a Membership Agreement addressing confidentiality and dispute resolution, and independently select investments from presented Business Opportunities. Grown to 68 members as of 2021.
• Affordable Workforce Housing Program Investment track connecting LION members with Jefferson County property owners and homeowners seeking loans to build, finish, or improve properties in order to provide affordable housing for local workers. Operated in partnership with Housing Solutions Network's Share our Spaces program and accompanied by the joint 'Stories from East Jefferson County Employers' report on workforce housing impact.
• Local Investment Network Resources for Communities Toolkit and DIY resources, webinars, and Community of Practice facilitation for Washington State communities seeking to create or strengthen their own Local Investment Networks. Distributed alongside the Local Investing Resource Center and used by emerging LINs such as Clallam Opportunity Investment Network, Methow Investment Network, Ferry Investment Network, Thurston Investment Network, RIVER, Urban Impact, and Lower Columbia Investment Network.

Quantifiable outcome

• At least $9.4 million invested in local businesses through 276+ investments in 80+ businesses/nonprofits as of 2019
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Housing Solutions Network (HSN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022LION partners with Housing Solutions Network to address workforce housing challenges. HSN's Share our Spaces program offers options for creating affordable workforce housing. LION connects its members with property owners seeking loans to improve or add housing. Jointly produced 'Stories from East Jefferson County Employers' report on workforce housing impact.
• TwispWorksminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Collaborated with WSMA and other LINs to host the January 2022 webinar on Local Investment Networks and the Housing Crisis. Contact: Julie Tate-Libby.
• Clallam Opportunity Investment NetworkminorOthers · 1 January 2021Newly formed network inspired by LION as a regional example of local investing. Featured in Peninsula Daily News. LION serves as a model for emerging networks in Washington State.
• Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020WSMA has hosted webinars featuring LION and Washington LINs, including sessions with Michael H Shuman (whose early work inspired LION). WSMA provides scholarships for 'Local Investment 101' training and facilitates the Community of Practice for Local Investment Networks in Washington. Organized Global Entrepreneurship Month 2020 and 2021 events featuring LION as panelist.
• Association of Washington Cities - Center for Quality Communities (AWC-CQC)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020AWC's Center for Quality Communities partnered with Washington State University Extension to bring Local Investment Networks to cities and towns across Washington State. They developed DIY resources and provide support for communities wanting to create LINs. Inspired by LION's positive impact on the local economy.
• Washington State University ExtensionmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020WSU Extension partnered with AWC's Center for Quality Communities to expand Local Investment Networks statewide. Contact: Anthony Gromko. Facilitated the Community of Practice for existing and emerging LINs in Washington, hosting monthly meetings for best practice sharing.
• Local Investing Resource CenterminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020National organization with mission to 'expand investment into local small businesses and nonprofits nationwide.' Provides resources for Local Investors, Community Builders, and Investment Advisors. LION promotes this resource on their Collaborate page.
• Other Washington State Local Investment NetworksminorOthers · 1 January 2020Networks including Methow Investment Network (MIN), Ferry Investment Network, Thurston Investment Network (ThINk), RIVER Local Investment Network, Urban Impact, and Lower Columbia Investment Network (LCIN). Part of the Washington LIN Community of Practice that meets monthly.
• EDC Team Jefferson (Economic Development Council for Jefferson County)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006EDC Team Jefferson is the host organization for LION. They provide business advisory services, accept Business Opportunity applications, and promote LION as an economic development initiative. EDC Team Jefferson is located at 385 Benedict Street, Suite 2A, Port Townsend, WA. The EDC jointly produces reports with Housing Solutions Network addressing workforce housing challenges.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Local Investment Opportunity Network (LION)