jeffersonlion

LION shares 2025 Impact Survey Findings

Sun, 18 May 2025 18:52:31 GMT

Explore the details about LION's impact in Jefferson County.

LION members shared information about their local investing activity in a 2025 survey. We are pleased to report that findings confirm that these investments continue to have an increasing positive impact on our local economy.

See all the details here .

Public Meeting May 6, 2024

debstin@live.com (Deborah Stinson) — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 16:12:59 GMT

Get to know your Local Investing Opportunities Network

Current and potential LION members and businesses that might be interested in funding are encouraged to attend

Hear presentations from investors and owners of three LION-funded ventures:

Quillbilly’s, Sail Port Townsend, and the Community Build’s first Tiny House on Wheels

Appetizers and no-host Cider available

LION shares most recent impact survey results

debstin@live.com (Deborah Stinson) — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 17:21:28 GMT

Read all about it!

LION members gathered on June 13th to hear the results of the most recent survey that reflects the impact of their local investing activity. We are pleased to share that the results confirm that these investments continue to have an increasing positive impact on our local economy. See all the details here .

Learn all about LION

debstin@live.com (Deborah Stinson) — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 21:59:30 GMT

Then join the conversation over dinner.

Cidery favorites and sweet or savory crepes available for purchase.

LION announces new track for affordable workforce housing!

debstin@live.com (Deborah Stinson) — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 22:23:30 GMT

Click on the Housing tab to learn more about this new investment track to support our local businesses.

One of many options for adding affordable housing to your existing real property in Jefferson County.

Investing for Change: Local Investment Networks (LINs) and the Housing Crisis

sarahfinger@gmail.com (Sarah Rubenstein ) — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 20:15:07 GMT

Watch the Recording

On January 26, 2022 Local Investment Networks (LINs) from around Washington State took a deep dive into the current housing crisis and how LINs can be involved. Following a presentation by housing expert Bill Barberg, president and founder of InsightFormation Inc., participants broke out into groups to address specific housing issues, such as using charitable capital to support housing, creating an ADU ecosystem, navigating short-term rentals, innovative ownership models and supporting successful housing rentals.

WATCH THE VIDEO REPLAY

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BILL BARBERG'S POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

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WEBINAR RESOURCES (Includes websites, videos, contacts, resources + more!)

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If you attended the webinar or watched the replay, we would really appreciate your feedback! Thanks for completing this quick 10-question AFTER WEBINAR SURVEY

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If you have any additional questions or need any further information please feel free to reach out to Lisa Smith at WSMA ( lisa@wamicrobiz.org ) or Julie Tate-Libby at TwispWorks ( jtate-libby@twispworks.org ).

Thank you to the partners and speakers at TwispWorks, the Methow Investment Network (MIN), the Ferry Investment Network, the Thurston Economic Development Council, the Thurston Investment Network (ThINk), The Local Investing Opportunities Network (LION), the RIVER Local Investment Network, Urban Impact and the Lower Columbia Investment Network (LCIN).

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This webinar was brought to you by the Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA), the Association of Washington Cities, and the WSU Extension. Thank you to the Washington State Department of Commerce for supporting this work.

Clallam Opportunity Investment Network Featured in PDN

sarahfinger@gmail.com (Sarah Rubenstein ) — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 23:14:35 GMT

The newly formed Clallam Opportunity Investment Network is featured in a Peninsula Daily News article . LION has been a regional example of local investing to support local businesses.

See LION Featured: Local Investment Networks (Established and Emerging) in Washington State

sarahfinger@gmail.com (Sarah Rubenstein ) — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 03:06:52 GMT

View the recording from WSMA.

LION was featured as part of the panel discussion at the event presented by the Washington State Microenterprise Association.

For many years, local investors have been joining together to support local businesses in several rural communities in Washington state. As part of the Washington State Department of Commerce’s Global Entrepreneurship Month Series, WSMA presented a panel discussion bringing together new and established Local Investment Networks (LINs) and statewide partners to raise awareness about how the power of local investment in entrepreneurship can improve the economic vitality of their region.

Watch the recording and see the slide deck at WSMA .

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Featuring local LION panelist:

Earll Murman has lived in Jefferson County for 15 years after retiring from MIT as a Ford Professor of Engineering. He is active in a number of community organizations and efforts including the local investing network LION and the Jefferson Community Foundation’s Housing Solutions Network. The Murmans have invested in over a dozen local businesses and nonprofits.

The Community Impact of LION

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 18:19:49 GMT

The Local Investing Opportunities Network (LION) is a network of local citizens whose mission is to build a prosperous and resilient community by investing their money locally in East Jefferson County. Founded in 2006, LION now has 68 members. Local businesses and non-profit organizations submit Business Opportunity applications through EDC Team Jefferson to solicit interest and financial support from LION members. Each LION member makes their own decisions as to whether, where and how to invest.

Cumulatively, as of 2019, LION members have made:

at least 276 local investments
in at least 80 local businesses and non-profits
for a total of at least $9.4 million invested.

These numbers are based upon voluntary responses to LION member surveys. Actual totals are larger than above because not all LION members responded to the surveys. 94% of the investments have been loans with an average term of 5.3 years and average interest of 5.2%. The median invested per business or non-profit is $28,575, although the range is from $1,000 to $2.2M.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

LION’s mission is to help build prosperous local businesses, keep investing local money in our community, and foster a more resilient and sustainable economy in East Jefferson County. To be resilient and sustainable, that economy needs to work for everyone in the community. We are a network that has been and is today made up of members who are primarily white, older, and middle or upper-class. We share values of diversity, equity and inclusion, and we recognize LION’s value will be strengthened with broader reach into all segments of our community.

Members of LION acknowledge the presence of systemic, cultural, and personal racism, and that many existing systems of power continue to distribute privilege and access inequitably. We recognize that access to money is power, and that traditional financial systems contribute to systemic racism and inequity. We also acknowledge that in East Jefferson County we live on land usurped from indigenous peoples.

This acknowledgement is the first of several outreach activities to come. For instance, publicizing in local media and other outlets; liaising with community and economic development organizations; and outreach to organizations and people of systemically disadvantaged communities.

LION desires to welcome new members to its investor network. Please visit the member section of www.leffersonlion.net for information on LION membership and for information on submitting Business Opportunity applications.

Download this Community Impact Statement as a PDF.