formed as a grassroots initiative in 2005 under the umbrella of The Black United Fund of Oregon to assist small businesses that were experiencing challenges in the wake of gentrification, new development, and increased rents in North/Northeast Portland.

The success of the pilot and continued support from funders encouraged MESO to form its own non-profit in 2008. Since then, MESO has become a premier comprehensive small business service provider in Oregon and SW Washington, offering innovative lending and savings programs, tailored technical assistance, business education and planning, and marketing and accounting support to the underserved communities across urban and rural counties.

MESO is a designated SBA microlender, an IDA fiduciary, a USDA RMAP (Rural Micro-Entrepreneur Assistance Program) lender, and a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). We fill a much-needed niche, working with small businesses through every stage – from asset building and credit preparedness to first loans and business launches to dozens of business expansions every year.

Since the beginning, MESO’s work has been focused on poverty alleviation through entrepreneurship in distressed communities and distressed areas. Our impact has been significant in shifting the economic outlook for the nearly 3000 families we have served. We practice our values and mirror our clients in race and culture, which has led to trust-building, empowerment, and results such as a default rate of less than 2% and not a single business closing during the pandemic. Revenues have increased over 1600% for some and clients have bought buildings, saved for their children’s education, and planned for their retirement.