The Wells Fargo Foundation has announced a $1 million grant to Ascendus to launch BRIDGE Broward, a new initiative designed to expand access to capital and business support for small entrepreneurs in Broward County.
The initiative focuses on inclusive capital access, microloans, financial coaching, technical assistance, small business growth, job creation, credit health, business stability and support for underserved entrepreneurs.
The announcement was made at the 2026 Broward & Beyond Business Conference in Fort Lauderdale. Through the programme, Ascendus will deploy $900,000 in loans to an estimated 36 entrepreneurs across Broward County and support the creation or retention of around 160 local jobs.
BRIDGE Broward, which stands for Broward Resources for Inclusive Development & Growth for Entrepreneurs, aims to address barriers that prevent many small business owners from accessing traditional bank financing.
The loans will be provided by Ascendus, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution lender. Each borrower will also receive personalized financial coaching to strengthen credit health, business stability and long-term financial confidence.
The programme will be supported by three Broward-based community partners: Prospera, Hispanic Unity of Florida and Urban League Central County Community Development Corporation. These organizations will provide tailored technical assistance to participating entrepreneurs.
Through BRIDGE Broward, eligible small business owners may access microloans ranging from $500 to $100,000. The programme will also offer lines of credit of up to $50,000 at a fixed 13.99% rate to support recurring cash flow needs.
Paul Quintero, CEO of Ascendus, said the initiative is built on the idea that capital alone is not enough. He said real business growth happens when capital is combined with coaching and collaboration.
Hector J. Ponte, South Florida Region Executive at Wells Fargo, said small businesses are the heartbeat of Broward County and that the grant will bring together capital, local expertise and community partnerships to expand opportunity for entrepreneurs who have often been overlooked.
The initiative comes as small business owners across South Florida face rising costs, tighter credit markets and economic uncertainty.
Ascendus has operated in Florida for more than 20 years, deploying over $63 million in small business loans and serving more than 3,000 entrepreneurs. Nationally, the organization has deployed more than $420 million to over 57,000 entrepreneurs across the United States.
BRIDGE Broward is expected to help strengthen local businesses, improve financial resilience and support inclusive economic growth across Broward County.
