The Association recently attended a small business empowerment event in Delaware hosted by Visa & Main and SCORE Mentors to help connect credit unions with the broader business community.

The event was designed to introduce small businesses to Visa & Main, a small business empowerment initiative. The program helps local businesses gain access to capital to fuel growth, increase visibility, and provide essential business tools.

The event offered an opportunity to highlight the key role credit unions play in supporting entrepreneurship and community growth.

John Chartrand, Chief Banking Officer for Del-One Federal Credit Union, participated in a panel discussion focused on small business support. Chartrand emphasized that the credit union cooperative business model is especially well-suited to serve small businesses. He noted that credit unions are able to work with entrepreneurs from the very beginning, helping them grow and serving as a trusted partner over the long term.

The event also featured remarks from U.S. Senator Chris Coons, who spoke about his work on the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee and his lifelong focus on supporting small businesses in Delaware.

Other speakers included Michael Brown, Principal U.S. Economist for Visa, who previously spoke at the Association’s convention; Kim Lawrence, North America Regional President for Visa; and Mike Bowman, Delaware State Director of the Small Business Development Center, along with local Delaware small business leaders.