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Dear Community,
2026 is thoroughly underway and against all odds, I’m choosing hope. How?
Like many of you, I have been horrified by the violence and impunity we’ve witnessed across the country at the hands of ICE. We are seeing people who are following the rules to enter the country legally and even U.S. citizens being detained and deported. And we are also seeing good people who step in to help, getting forcefully intimidated, and tragically, much worse.
The America I know is one where we value helping others. It’s a place where being a good citizen means speaking up, reaching out, and supporting our neighbors. We are all connected, and we all do better when we all do better. How do we reclaim these values? Some days, they feel far away, but at ICA Fund, we are choosing optimism.
I don’t have easy answers for the state of the world. What I do know is that we can all take action — by coming together and continuing to move good work forward. That is our imperative at ICA.
This year, ICA Fund celebrates 30 years of backing great businesses and proving what’s possible when we support underrepresented entrepreneurs. Throughout 2026, we will reflect on our history and dream about where we are headed for the next 30 years, as we continue our mission to build an economy that works for all.
We offer an alternative to mainstream finance, a system that has contributed to a lopsided economy benefiting the few over the many, and that has fueled our frayed social fabric. Our work is rooted in building thriving local markets that create good jobs and community wealth. We believe this is foundational to building an economy that truly works for everyone. And the beginning of rebuilding trust, bridging division, and doing better together. It is not the whole solution, not by a long shot, but it is an essential part of the puzzle.
So, in the face of dark times, we are doubling down on our work. We are betting that investing in local markets and in entrepreneurs building right here in our communities can deliver competitive financial returns and lasting social impact. Today, just as in 1996, this bet is as bold as it is necessary.
Building a more inclusive economy is hard work along an uncertain path but the stakes are too high not to try. Read below for our newest investments and projects as we begin the year, and stay tuned for more.
We’re in this together,
Allison Kelly
