Virginie Atake
The Bronx
Virginie Atake came to the United States as a refugee in 2011, fleeing her native Togo. Within months, she had opened her own successful store in the Bronx, selling African groceries and general merchandise. After an electrical fire destroyed the store and her inventory, she was able to quickly qualify for a $3,000 loan through BCNA’s Microloan Program for Refugees. After that loan helped her transition her store to a home-based wholesale business, a second microloan from BCNA allowed her to rebuild her inventory. Now, by participating in BCNA’s IDA savings program, she has received a matching grant of $4,000 that she’ll use to further invest in her growing business.
BCNA Services:
• Microloan
• IDA Savings
• Workshops