Haitham Kadou came to United states from Syria as a refugee in 2016.
In Syria, he learned the process of soap making from his grandparents with unique recipes passed down from generation to generation. He also had experience running his own soap factory producing high quality soaps made with all-natural and chemical-free ingredients.
When he arrived in St. Louis, he decided to open the same business with a new name: Aleppo Natural Soap. The International Institute Community Development Corporation (IICDC) was there to help!
Like many immigrants and refugees wanting to start a business in St. Louis, Haitham faced two major barriers: 1) access to capital & 2) knowledge of local resources and opportunities. Many of the skills and experiences of foreign-born entrepreneurs do not easily transfer to the US. IICDC supported Haitham as he launched his business on Facebook and Etsy and connected him to opportunities at local bazaars and festivals. His business is one of 536 supported by their organization.
IICDC is Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in the St. Louis region that provides loans and business development services to immigrants who do not qualify for business credit at traditional banks
They help clients become successful borrowers and savers, evaluating and providing them with an appropriate level of credit counseling, financial literacy and training to compliment the choice of financial product. Many are still struggling to develop and perfect their English and business communication skills. As a result, they are less likely to take advantage of the many resources that our region has for low-income entrepreneurs. With support from IICDC they are able to take the first step towards becoming business bankable.
IICDC offers a variety of services to clients to promote the economic development of immigrants and refugees in the St. Louis region, including their microenterprise loans ranging from $500-45,000. According to the Regional Chamber and Growth Association, generated over $161 million in economic impact for the St. Louis region.
The International Institute CDC is a member of the St. Louis CDFI Coalition, a partnership among eight CDFIs that offer an array of capital, development, and consulting services and share a common mission to empower a comprehensively healthy St. Louis community through support for nonprofits, small businesses, and communities facing disinvestment.
