Meet Maria

Maria and her daughter moved to New York City from Mexico ten years ago. They had little to their name and no income. After searching, Maria was able to find work in a factory and then in a flower shop in order to make ends meet for her family.

Working long hours and having little flexibility to care for her daughter, Maria had a dream to use her knowledge of the flower business and open up her own shop. She heard about Grameen America from a fellow borrower in her neighborhood and was surprised to learn that someone like her - with no credit history - would be accepted into the program. She received her first loan of $1,000 in 2011 to start her very own mobile flower business in her neighborhood.

Now on her eighth loan, Maria has her own thriving corner flower shop and two employees – including her daughter, who is also a Grameen America borrower and studying for her GED so that she can go to college. Maria’s goals are to continue growing her business by opening a second location, hiring additional employees and offering delivery services in her neighborhood.