Jefferson Economic Developement Institute

JEDI'S MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL WEALTH CREATION. THROUGH THIS MISSION, JEDI IS ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF RURAL POVERTY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SINCE 1996 IT HAS SUPPORTED OVER 6,700 PEOPLE IN GROWING A BUSINESS, CREATED 1,700 BUSINESSES AND JOBS, AND 70 HAVE RECEIVED FINANCING OF APPROXIMATELY 7.6 MILLION.

THE JEFFERSON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (JEDI) IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO INCREASING THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL WEALTH CREATION. JEDI ASSISTS LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES TO THRIVE FINANCIALLY BY BUILDING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES AND ASSETS. OVER THE PAST 21 YEARS, JEDI HAS SERVED OVER 6,700 INDIVIDUALS WHO STARTED OVER 1,700 BUSINESSES AND ADDED NEW JOBS IN THIS RURAL FRONTIER REGION OF FAR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. JEDI HAS BROUGHT CLOSE TO 7.6 MILLION INTO THE COUNTY IN SUPPORT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ASSISTED BUSINESSES TO ACQUIRE OVER 1,800,000 IN FINANCING. JEDI BECAME AN SBA-DESIGNATED WOMENS BUSINESS VENTER IN 2014 AND SERVES A 4-COUNTY REGION IN NORTHERN CA. JEDI SERVES 1,500 PEOPLE PER YEAR SEEKING TO START OR GROW A BUSINESS OR FAMILY FINANCIAL SECURITY, OF WHICH, 82% ARE WOMEN, 18% ARE MINORITES, 19% ARE DISABLED, 72% ARE LOW INCOME AND 100% ARE RURAL. JEDI IS ALSO HOST TO AN IRS-SPONSORED VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) PROGRAM, PREPARING APPROXIMATELY 600 FREE TAXES FOR SENIORS AND LOW INCOME WAGE EARNERS PER YEAR. JEDI IS ALSO THE HOST OF THE MT. SHASTA FARMERS MARKET, PROVIDING A MARKET OUTLET FOR FARMERS ANF RANCHERS FOR 20 YEARS. JEDI'S WELL-SEASONED ARRAY OF MICRO AND SMALL BUSINESS COACHING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, ASSET-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS, INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC PROJECTS, AND GENERAL COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING. JEDI HAS BEEN AN IRS- SPONSORED VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE) SITE FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS AND PROVIDES SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOME FREE TAX PREPARATION. JEDI ALSO MANAGES THE MT SHASTA FARMERS MARKET. JEDI PROVIDED MANY DIRECT SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF BUSINESS AND ASSET DEVELOPMENT. THE WOMENS AT JEDI IS GROWING AND EXPANDING TO SERVE MORE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND IS FAST BECOMING A LEAFER IN ITS CLASS SERVING RURAL WOMEN.