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20Bank, but his poor credit rating made a loan impossible.Though their hands were tied, the banker knew Dogbewas a credible candidate and so made a call to theNeighborhood Development Center’s Director ofLending, Brian Singer.In partnership with the Black Chamber of Commerce,NDC was able to offer Dogbe a loan to purchaseequipment, and later another loan for working capitaland payroll. His NDC loan officer Perla Mayo says he’sahead of schedule on his payments, and his credit scorehas improved considerably.Dogbe and SOS Building Services were the perfectcandidates to receive assistance from NDC’s newlylaunched Business Expansion Program— an initiative toexpand its business assistance services, including loancapital offerings to better meet the particular needs ofexisting businesses poised for growth.Business has been very good. Working mostly inMinneapolis’ Uptown area, glowing word-of-mouthreferences have kept him busy and allowed him to hiremore employees. NDC’s Business Lab is in the process ofproviding him with a new logo and website and advice onhow to attract and manage more business opportunities.Sitting behind his desk, monitoring three computers athis home in North Minneapolis, Dogbe manages the SOSpayroll, pays invoices and oversees his 24 employees. Butwhen a hire is just starting out, or there’s a new buildingto clean, Dogbe is there— collecting trash, vacuuming,cleaning toilets— alongside his staff, and speaking English.“I work to motivate them,” he said. “By working hard anddoing it right, we have a job. If we don’t do it right, we don’twork. It’s simple.”A version of this story was previously published by theNeighborhood Development Center.Written by Emily Blodgett, Director of ExternalCommunicationsA DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEUR