Punta de Mita, Nayarit – With a total of 70 group loans under its belt and over 275 active clients, local microfinance institution Sé Más Microfinanzas (Know More Microfinance) completed its first year of business on July 16th. Sé Más provides small loans and financial education classes for entrepreneurs throughout the Bay of Banderas in order to give them a boost and keep them out of poverty.

"We feel strongly that even the smallest businesses need access to financial services designed to meet their needs," said Melissa Floca, a member of the Sé Más Board of Directors. "Loans coupled with financial education allow entrepreneurs to achieve economic stability with the dignity that stems from solving their own problems."

Sé Más was launched by local non-profit, PEACE Mexico in order to support economic development in the area. For years, PEACE saw the need to couple its community development work with access to financial capital. Because Mexican non-profits are not legally able to include micro lending in their portfolio of programs, Sé Más was formed as a separate institution.

Loans from Sé Más range from $1,000-$5,000 pesos and are distributed to borrowers in lending groups. One entrepreneur, Maria del Socoro Vazquez, bought a cart for her hot dog and hamburger business with the loan she received. When asked how she planned on using her increased income, Vasquez responded, "I want to rise above and keep improving myself, I want my children to study and have a career, and I want to learn how to use the computer better."

This is exactly the kind of progressive thinking Sé Más loan officers seek in potential clients. Another required component for each client is to attend financial education classes which cover topics such as budgeting, pricing, and competition. Entrepreneurs can then put into practice their business knowledge and increase profits from their business.

"Education and loans act as a catalyst to get clients out of poverty," said Floca. "Increased dignity, self-esteem, and respect from the community often follow."

In years to come, Sé Más expects to see more individual and community empowerment, within the Bay of Banderas and beyond.

To apply for a loan, contact Credit Adviser Mar Moller at Cell: 322-141-5504 or Mar.Moller(at)semasmicrofinanzas.com.

To become a !Sé Más! donor or investor, contact !Sé Más! Board Member Molly Fisher at Cell: 322-138-5064, Tel: (329) 291-5157 or Molly.Fisher(at)semasmicrofinanzas.com.

To become a ¡Sé Más! volunteer or intern, contact: !Sé Más! Board Member Melissa Floca at Cell: 552-270-1861 or Melissa.floca(at)semasmicrofinanzas.com.

PEACE, (Protection, Education, Animals, Culture, Environment) established in 2005, is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization made up of three main programs which focus on education, animal well-being, and environmental protection in the Bay of Banderas, Nayarit, Mexico. PEACE works hand-in-hand with communities in Mexico to provide holistic education, combined with community action programs that enable people to improve their quality of life as well as their financial stability.

For more information, please visit PeaceMexico.org or click HERE to read more about PEACE