Wells Fargo Foundation Awards $550,000 Grant to Expand Wealth Building Programs for Texas Entrepreneurs

The Wells Fargo Foundation has awarded a $550,000 grant to JUST Community, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to providing equitable access to capital and support services for entrepreneurs across Texas. The funding announcement coincided with the kickoff of El Paso Start-Up Week at the Garden Venue and will significantly expand JUST's financial empowerment and coaching model that prioritizes character-based assessment over traditional credit scoring.

This substantial investment will enable small business owners in El Paso and throughout Texas to access the tools and support necessary to start, grow, and sustain their businesses, ultimately leading to long-term financial stability and meaningful community impact. Steve Wanta, Co-Founder and CEO of JUST, emphasized that trust serves as the fundamental principle guiding their approach. By building relationships with entrepreneurs and providing comprehensive tools for credit management, savings strategies, and strategic investments, JUST helps business owners achieve more than just income generation.

The organization's methodology focuses on creating pathways to ownership that extend beyond business assets to include homes and future financial security. This approach to wealth creation generates sustainable outcomes that strengthen families and communities throughout Texas. With the Wells Fargo Foundation's support, JUST can expand its proven model to help more entrepreneurs transform their potential into lasting economic impact.

The grant announcement aligned with JUST Community's significant milestone of distributing over $1 million in loans specifically to entrepreneurs in El Paso. The celebration featured a local market showcasing businesses that have thrived through JUST's support programs, with attendance from local business leaders, community partners, City of El Paso officials, Wells Fargo Foundation representatives, and small business owners. Across Texas, JUST Community has provided over $40 million in loans to thousands of entrepreneurs, demonstrating the scalability and effectiveness of their trust-based model.

JUST's comprehensive approach combines capital access with personalized coaching and supportive networking opportunities, enabling business owners to strategically save and grow their enterprises for long-term financial stability. The program's success is evidenced by the fact that ninety percent of participants build sustainable businesses and develop the financial capacity to cover emergency expenses within the first 18-24 months of participation.

Alma Gonzalez, Founder of Chester Homemade Dog Treats, shared her experience with JUST's transformative approach. Her business emerged from personal passion and the loss of her dog Patricio, yet she initially struggled to find support for what others perceived as a small dream. JUST became the first organization to look beyond conventional metrics and trust in her vision, providing the courage and resources needed to grow Chester into a successful enterprise.

In El Paso alone, more than 100 entrepreneurs have leveraged JUST's trust-based lending model to launch and expand their businesses. The grant announcement also marked the beginning of El Paso Start-Up Week, highlighting new opportunities and celebrating the growth of local businesses across the city and state. JUST Community operates as a social venture that invests in ambitious Texas entrepreneurs, fostering financial stability and generational wealth through its innovative trust-based financial system. Additional information about their programs and impact can be found at https://www.hellojust.com.