Assisting Grameen America with Research on Potential Markets in the United States

Grameen America is committed to alleviating poverty and spurring entrepreneurship by providing small loans, savings programs, credit establishment, and financial education to people living below the poverty line in the United States. With remarkable success in New York City and Omaha, Nebraska, Grameen America is now ready to expand to a third U.S. location. To support its growth, Grameen America has asked a team of graduate students at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) to recommend new markets for the upcoming San Francisco/Bay Area office.

The final report recommends the establishment of an initial, pioneer office in Fruitvale, Oakland that would collaborate with existing social networks and agencies. Fruitvale was identified as an area with high socioeconomic need, a large immigrant population and a high percentage of the population living below poverty. While major banks have community and group lending practices in the area, there is still a large portion of the population outside of the formal financial system.

Faculty Advisor: Milena Gomez-Kopp