Arlo Washington, the founder and president of People Trust Community Loan Fund in Little Rock, Arkansas, recognized a critical need for accessible financial services within his community. “I listen to other business owners talk about how hard it was for them to access capital to start their businesses…I wanted to be able to help them,” said Washington., People Trust recently received a $2 million loan through the Goldman Sachs Investment in Rural Communities, a program managed by HOPE. Washington credits the investment for the growth of several small businesses and local job creation. “With the loan, we have been able to get a lot of business owners out of merchant cash advances and get them on the right track financially,” said Washington. “We’re fortunate to have a financial partner like HOPE that understands our mission and the needs of the community.”