This article begins with a background on small businesses, small business lending, and the challenges small companies face in the current economic environment. It then focuses on the poverty alleviation aspect of entrepreneurship through microenterprise development—helping a segment of underserved small business owners create or expand their business. The article describes the scope of microenterprise development and the benefits to small business owners and their communities and includes case studies of organizations that participate in microenterprise development activities. It also describes the benefits to banks that participate in these activities.
Last Updated: January 1, 2011