Emerita, a recent immigrant from Ecuador, opened her IDA account in January 2001. Since, she has opened a thriving seamstress and clothing design shop in the Burnside Avenue Business District. With the success of her small business, Emerita was able to make improvements to her shop’s façade (above).

Edison Forbes, Carpenter

Edison has the unique circumstance of being both a successful IDA participant, as well as a Mount Hope Housing Company, Inc. building porter. Since completing the IDA Program in 2003, his furniture craftsmanship has been widely sought by community residents.

Glenda started her bakery and taqueria, Los Cuates, with a gift for making traditional Mexican dishes with flare. By contributing monthly to her IDA account, working with staff to create her business plan and with ingenuity, her hard work paid off with a successful local eatery.