FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / AGILITYPR.NEWS / June 10, 2026 / National CDFI lender to engage with more than 1,400 small business owners at the June 12 conference — joining Grand Sponsor Wells Fargo and Broward-based community partners Prospera, Hispanic Unity of Florida, and Urban League Central County CDC

Ascendus, a national Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), will participate in the 2026 Broward & Beyond Business Conference on Friday, June 12, joining Grand Sponsor Wells Fargo and Broward-based community partners Prospera, Hispanic Unity of Florida, and Urban League Central County Community Development Corporation to engage with the more than 1,400 small business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders expected to attend.

For over 30 years, Ascendus has deployed more than $435 million in capital to 62,000+ small business owners across the country. Every loan is paired with personalized financial coaching and ongoing support, helping entrepreneurs build financial health, resilience, and the foundation for long-term growth.

Ascendus has been serving small business owners across Broward County for many years, financing entrepreneurs in industries ranging from construction and remodeling to retail, food service, professional services, and the creative economy. The organization’s continued work in Broward, in partnership with community-based organizations on the ground, reflects the kind of cross-sector collaboration that helps small business owners move from access to growth to durable economic mobility.

“Small business owners deserve a financial ecosystem that sees the whole picture of what they are building — the business, the plan, the people behind it. We are proud to be part of the conversation at the Broward & Beyond Business Conference, alongside our funders and community partners on the ground, supporting the growth of small business owners across Broward County.”

— Paul Quintero, CEO, Ascendus

The 2026 Broward & Beyond Business Conference, hosted by the Broward County Office of Economic and Small Business Development (OESBD) as a Service of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, takes place Friday, June 12, from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the Broward County Convention Center East Expansion in Fort Lauderdale. The free, all-day event will include panels, networking, an exhibit hall, and keynote remarks from entrepreneur and master teacher Dr. Adolph “Doc” Brown III, with Emmy-nominated NBC6 journalist Constance Jones serving as event host.

Registration is free and available through Eventbrite. Small business owners interested in connecting with Ascendus directly can visit ascendus.org or meet the Ascendus team at the conference.