Nebraska’s first Black-owned financial institution is reborn as the Carver Legacy Center, a financial and wealth building system. Back in 1944, Carver Savings and Loan Association opened. One of its four founders, Willie Barney, said this will help breathe new life into North Omaha.”This has been on the drawing board for a number of years, and we’ve been taking step by step to get to this point,” Barney said.The center is comprised of the Hub, the Financial Center and the Revive Omaha Store. The unique model allows Black business owners to explore their options, which, co-founder Lynnell Williams said, have been historically limited. “For a lot of Black business owners, that means once you get a ‘no,'” Williams said. “Most of them have thought meant a ‘no’ forever.”Each aspiring business owner will start with the hub, which focuses on coaching and technical assistance.”There are 10 key questions we’ll ask of each person, and then based on that, that’ll kind of help us understand and reconnect them with resources, training, development opportunities,” Barney said. “If they’re looking to scale their business up, there’s a specific track for that. If they’re looking to launch their business there’s a track for that as well.”The storefront will sell and promote local business owners’ products. And, in partnership with American National Bank, the financial center will provide capital to potential homeowners and entrepreneurs. Williams said financial literacy is top priority, especially as more payday loan businesses pop up.”People are going into those places thinking there’s quick help, but they’re finding out they’re being imprisoned by debt, so we’re here to hopefully stop some of the madness and bring money management,” Williams said.
Nebraska’s first Black-owned financial institution is reborn as the Carver Legacy Center, a financial and wealth building system.
Back in 1944, Carver Savings and Loan Association opened. One of its four founders, Willie Barney, said this will help breathe new life into North Omaha.
“This has been on the drawing board for a number of years, and we’ve been taking step by step to get to this point,” Barney said.
The center is comprised of the Hub, the Financial Center and the Revive Omaha Store. The unique model allows Black business owners to explore their options, which, co-founder Lynnell Williams said, have been historically limited.
“For a lot of Black business owners, that means once you get a ‘no,'” Williams said. “Most of them have thought meant a ‘no’ forever.”
Each aspiring business owner will start with the hub, which focuses on coaching and technical assistance.
“There are 10 key questions we’ll ask of each person, and then based on that, that’ll kind of help us understand and reconnect them with resources, training, development opportunities,” Barney said. “If they’re looking to scale their business up, there’s a specific track for that. If they’re looking to launch their business there’s a track for that as well.”
The storefront will sell and promote local business owners’ products. And, in partnership with American National Bank, the financial center will provide capital to potential homeowners and entrepreneurs. Williams said financial literacy is top priority, especially as more payday loan businesses pop up.
“People are going into those places thinking there’s quick help, but they’re finding out they’re being imprisoned by debt, so we’re here to hopefully stop some of the madness and bring money management,” Williams said.
