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Albuquerque, NM (Feb. 5, 2009) – Local small business lender ACCION New Mexico • Arizona • Colorado (ACCION) was recently awarded Charity Navigator’s top four-star rating for the fifth year in a row. Founded in 2001, Charity Navigator has become the nation’s largest and most-utilized evaluator of charities. Specifically, Charity Navigator’s rating system examines two broad areas of a charity’s financial health—how responsibly it functions day to day as well as how well positioned it is to sustain its programs over time.

 

Charity Navigator President and Chief Executive Officer Ken Berger says, “Only 4% of the charities we rate have received at least 5 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that ACCION consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America.”

 

ACCION’s 15-year track record of strong fiscal stewardship is more important than ever given the current economic climate. Recognizing a deep regional need for its small business services, ACCION expanded to serve the Denver, Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas during the second half of last year. The organization is financially well-positioned to respond to unprecedented demand in 2009 from entrepreneurs in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado in search of loans for the start-up or growth of their small businesses. 

 

“We recognize these are extraordinarily challenging times for many existing and aspiring small business owners,” says ACCION New Mexico • Arizona • Colorado President and CEO Anne Haines Yatskowitz. “At the same time, our communities have never needed the economic vitality generated by small businesses more. As we celebrate our 15^th year supporting economic transformation, ACCION is proud to be able to offer courageous and visionary entrepreneurs the financial boost they need to generate revenue and create jobs.”