Inside Voices, Community Conversations: Is Access to Capital the Hidden Driver of Inequity?

Why do some businesses thrive while others struggle to survive, even when demand is strong? Is access to capital the missing piece? On this episode of Inside Voices, Georgia Goldburn sits down with Mark Hayles of Better Local Capital to discuss entrepreneurship, economic equity, and the barriers many small business owners face when seeking funding. Together, they explore how access to working capital impacts business growth, why childcare is a critical part of Connecticut's economic infrastructure, and what it will take to create more opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs. The conversation also examines Better Local Capital's CT Childcare Working Capital Financing program, the unique financial realities of childcare businesses, and why investing in providers is an investment in families, workforce participation, and local economies.