Introducing MicroPlace, and How Elizabeth Got Her Groove Back

Exactly how far can $90 go? Much, much farther than you might think. For Elizabeth from Atonsu Kumasi, Ghana, $90 went far enough to help her start a successful bakery and get back on her feet after her husband’s death left her as the sole provider for four children. Today, the bakery that she started with a $90 microfinance loan is helping her pay for the healthcare and education of her children. And the poor widow with five mouths to feed now employs eight employees of her own! (Read Elizabeth's inspiring story on MicroPlace.)

A big part of Elizabeth’s success is a concept called "microfinance." Widely recognized as an effective tool against poverty, the most common microfinance service is the provision of small loans – often as low as $50 – to enable the working poor to lift themselves from poverty through their own hard work and entrepreneurial spirit.

It's a concept that should strike a chord among many eBay sellers, thousands of whom have also built up successful businesses through their own hard work and entrepreneurial spirit.

There are millions of people like Elizabeth around the world who just need that little start, a microfinance loan, to lift themselves out of poverty. Unfortunately, most of them are unable to obtain loans from banks or other traditional lending institutions. And likewise, even though there are millions of good-hearted Americans willing to put their money behind the Elizabeths of this world, they’re not sure of how to go about it.

That's where a new company named MicroPlace comes in.

MicroPlace (a wholly-owned subsidiary of eBay, Inc.) enables consumers in the U.S. to use the internet to make microfinance investments that not only address global poverty, but also provide a financial return to the investors. The site’s philosophy can be summarized in four words – "Invest wisely. End poverty."

How does it work? I spoke to Tracey Pettengill Turner, Founder and General Manager of MicroPlace (watch her video below). She explained, "Everyday people can purchase investments – for as little as $100 – from microfinance security issuers. Through MicroPlace's secure platform, we enable investors to direct the impact of their investment to a specific country and microfinance institution in the developing world. The microfinance institutions use the funds to make small loans to the working poor, who in turn use the loans to start or expand small businesses and lift themselves out of poverty."

Besides the feel-good factor of knowing that my money is helping someone raise themselves out of poverty, I also like the idea of making a socially responsible investment and earning a return. I'm looking on www.microplace.com for good opportunities, and suggest you check it out as well.

MicroPlace is currently not registered in Tennessee. Investors who are residents of this state will not be allowed to make investments. This website should not be considered as an offering to sell investments in Tennessee. MicroPlace is only available to US residents. MicroPlace, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC