A couple days ago Bill Clinton announced the launch of “Kiva City’ at the Clinton Global Initiative Conference which is a joint project between Kiva and Visa.  Kiva City is a new way for Kiva to accelerate the growth of U.S. microfinance by empowering communities to join the movement. Each Kiva City will be an alliance between four groups:

1. Kiva – Kiva brings its personal microlending website, with more than 595,000 lenders and over $220 million dollars in total loans.
2. Civic Leaders – Mayors, State and Congressional Representatives, and other elected officials can support Kiva City by publicly declaring their commitment to support the alliance of local partners with Kiva to reach small businesses in need with microfinance loans.
3. Community Organizations – Community groups provide the feet on the ground that find local small businesses, and encourage them to apply for loans through the established field partner in the Kiva City initiative.
4. Financial institutions – A financial field partner will use their time-tested field experience and processes to qualify and administer loans to borrowers.

Here is the video announcement from Bill Clinton:

Here are a few articles to read more about Kiva City:

• Kiva.org, Visa Inc. Launch “Kiva City” in Support of U.S. Small Businesses
• ACCION USA Is a Key Partner on New Kiva.org, Visa Inc. Program to Support of U.S. Small Businesses
• Kiva.org, Visa Inc. Launch “Kiva City”