A few weekends ago, while waiting at a crosswalk in New York City, I overheard a conversation between what appeared to be two small business owners. The part I caught was something we hear all too often from small business owners in the U.S.: the long hours they devote to their businesses each week, weekends included, and their shared desire to “just have a break.” Part of what fills those hours is the range of roles an owner personally covers: operator, strategist, bookkee

Last week we hosted a virtual faiVLive event sharing early findings from Small Firm Diaries USA, with three panelists who work with small firms from different angles: a CDFI lender, a national policy expert, and a city government program lead. The conversation raised three places where small firms could use better and more tailored support. 1. The credit problem is shifting from access to quality The landscape for small business credit has shifted in the last decade. “There