When California’s wildfires swept through Los Angeles this year, their impact went far beyond charred landscapes, it disrupted the heartbeat of neighborhoods and shook the foundations of small, community-driven businesses. Yet amid the smoke and uncertainty, two local entrepreneurs; Natalie of Cafecita Coffee and Roozbeh of Delphi Greek Restaurant, stood as living testaments to the power of resilience and the importance of support systems like Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).
A Cup That Uplifts
At Cafecita Coffee, every cup tells a story. Founded in 2020 by former human-rights lawyer Natalie Webb, Cafecita is a woman-owned specialty coffee roaster grounded in values of empowerment and sustainability. All their beans come from single-origin, regenerative farms and co-ops run by women. Natalie started the company amid the pandemic, inspired by her global travels and commitment to gender equity, and even launched a solar-powered coffee trailer to bring peaceful, plant-nestled café experiences to places like Marina del Rey.
When the fires struck, Natalie didn’t wait for help to arrive—she served. In her signature gentle yet determined way, she offered thousands of cups of free coffee to frontline firefighters, transforming her small enterprise into a wellspring of comfort and solidarity.
A Table That Holds Generations
Just miles away in Westwood, Delphi Greek Restaurant & Bar, a white-stuccoed haven of Hellenic warmth since 1985, weathered the storm differently by standing steadfast. Founded decades ago and led since 2009 by Roozbeh Farahanipour alongside Executive Pastry Chef Rana, Delphi has long been a pillar of the community, serving authentic dishes and hosting generations of families.
When disaster disrupted supply chains and routines, Roozbeh kept the ovens warm and the community fed. Delphi’s continued presence felt like a promise: that cultural spaces, and the traditions they hold, still had a future worth preserving.
Enter PCV and the RESTORE LA Fund
These personal stories of courage and continuity are exactly why Pacific Community Ventures (PCV) stepped in with intention and empathy. With recovery expected to span months to years, PCV has launched the RESTORE LA Fund, a compassionate $3 million, 3% interest, no-fee loan initiative offering support in multiple languages, including Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin, to help small community businesses rebuild and thrive.
But it’s more than just money: PCV offers free business advising, access to climate-adaptation programs, and targeted loan products, such as 5% climate project loans and contractor working capital loans, designed to enable inclusive participation in the rebuilding process and a greener economy.
CDFIs at the Heart of Disaster Recovery
Moments like these highlight the unique role CDFIs play in natural disaster response and long-term resilience. Unlike traditional lenders, CDFIs are deeply embedded in the communities they serve. They are built to move quickly, deliver affordable and flexible capital, and tailor support for businesses that might otherwise be left behind. In Los Angeles, PCV and its fellow CDFIs are ensuring that recovery dollars flow not just to large contractors or corporations but to local entrepreneurs—the cafés, restaurants, and contractors who keep neighborhoods alive. By combining restorative financing with advisory services and climate-focused programs, CDFIs help communities not only rebuild, but also build back stronger, fairer, and more resilient for the future.
