BOSTON, MA / AGILITYPR.NEWS / March 24, 2026 / Boston, MA — March 2026 — Ascendus, a national Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) committed to financial ascension for all, announced that Andrea Ierace, Senior Vice President of Lending, attended the Bank of America Business Owner Report Kick-Off Event, hosted by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Foundation in partnership with Bank of America on March 24, 2026, at Bank of America’s offices at 100 Federal Street in Boston.

The event, part of the Chamber Foundation’s Small Business Strong learning series, brought together small business owners, nonprofit leaders, CDFIs, and community organizations to explore key findings from the Bank of America 2025 Business Owner Report — an annual study capturing the perspectives, priorities, and concerns of small and mid-sized business owners across the United States. Among its headline findings: 74% of business owners expect their revenue to increase in the next 12 months, 59% plan to expand their businesses, and 83% intend to obtain financing in the year ahead.

Ascendus was among the community lending organizations represented in the room, alongside other CDFIs and partners committed to expanding access to capital for underserved entrepreneurs across greater Boston and New England.

Event Highlights

Miceal Chamberlain, President of the Massachusetts & Northeast Region at Bank of America, opened the event with remarks on the institution’s commitment to supporting small businesses through its Small Business Strong initiative and broader community partnerships. Deborah Barry, Market Executive for Business Banking at Bank of America, contextualized the report findings locally — highlighting how inflation, tariff policy, and interest rates are shaping business decisions in Massachusetts, consistent with national trends showing these as the top concerns for business owners heading into 2026.

The event also featured a hands-on workshop on business readiness for financing — covering cash flow management, bookkeeping, and the practical steps entrepreneurs can take to strengthen their financial position. The session connected directly to one of the report’s most actionable findings: 83% of business owners plan to seek financing this year, underscoring the urgency of helping entrepreneurs prepare to access it successfully.

For Ierace, the event reinforced the strength of the partnership between banks, CDFIs, and community organizations — and the shared commitment to ensuring that small business growth reaches every entrepreneur.

“The Business Owner Report shows that 83% of small business owners plan to seek financing this year. That ambition is exactly what we support at Ascendus —helping entrepreneurs get ready to access the capital they need, on terms that serve their growth. Partnerships like this one with Bank of America and the Chamber Foundation are how we make that path possible for more entrepreneurs, especially those who have historically been underserved.”

— Andrea Ierace, SVP of Lending, Ascendus