When Cedric Buchanan came to us, he had a vision: to start his own transportation business and create something of his own. What he didn’t have was access to traditional financing—but that didn’t stop him.

Cedric had already been putting in the work. He connected with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), where he refined his business plan and took advantage of every resource available to him. He even went a step further and found his own mentor to help guide him through the process. It was clear from the beginning—Cedric wasn’t just hoping this would work. He was committed to making it happen.

After working closely with him, the SBDC referred Cedric to us. He came with a specific goal: to purchase a transit van so he could officially launch his transportation business. Over the next several months, we worked side by side to figure out a path forward.

Knowing traditional financing wasn’t an option, we partnered with the Community Investment Fund of Indiana to structure a deal that would work. Through our enhancement fund, we were able to purchase a portion of the debt, helping reduce the risk and make Cedric a stronger borrower in the eyes of a CDFI.

And it worked.

Cedric was able to purchase his van—and from there, he hit the ground running. No delays, no hesitation. Just action.

His story is a powerful reminder of why this work matters. Sometimes, people don’t need less ambition—they just need access. Cedric brought the grit, the determination, and the willingness to do the hard work. We were just able to help open the door.

Because when someone is as driven as Cedric, anything really is possible.Bi