Community Investment That Works

Why it matters

Community investment is the flow of capital into neighborhoods through loans and equity that grow small firms, build assets, and restore trust. It is most effective when residents help set priorities and stay engaged.

I have seen this up close as a former mayor of a border city in Arizona, former Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce, and former Chief of Staff at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Today, as CEO of Intermestic Partners, an international business advisory firm founded in 2011, I apply the same lessons to projects with top national and international companies. Intermestic Partners specializes in cross border trade and development, aligning public goals with private execution.

What moves the needle

• Target capital to local entrepreneurs and main street businesses

• Blend public, private, and philanthropic funds through CDFIs and mission lenders

• Use procurement to keep spending in the local economy

Strategies you can start now

• Convene city, lenders, employers, and residents to pick two or three shared priorities

• Partner with CDFIs to design flexible credit for small firms and affordable housing

• Publish clear metrics for jobs, wages, and community ownership

Benefits that compound

• Economic: more startups, better wages, stronger tax base

• Social: affordable homes, safer streets, trusted institutions

• Environmental: energy upgrades, clean transit, protected green space

Lessons from the field

Places that succeed invest with communities, not for them. Residents and employers co design solutions, leaders stay accountable, and capital is patient enough to build local capacity.

Common hurdles and fixes

Skill gaps, limited data, and risk aversion slow progress. Address them with technical assistance, transparent scorecards, and first loss capital that unlocks private investment.

Call to action

If you want to turn community priorities into bankable projects, let's talk. Intermestic Partners helps cities, companies, and civic leaders structure partnerships, mobilize capital, and deliver measurable results that last.