As California's economy recovers, millions of Californians remain out of work or underemployed. Nearly one-quarter of Californians live in poverty - the highest rate in the nation.

Bill Pace and Beth Sirull believe helping small businesses succeed is key to tackling this challenge. As Chair and President, respectively, of Pacific Community Ventures (PCV), they are linking small business entrepreneurs with expert advisors and private investors to help expand economic opportunity in low-income neighborhoods. They back many of these companies with loans ranging from $50,000 to $200,000.