NADCO is the primary trade association for CDCs and other lenders that administer the SBA loan programs. At this year’s annual conference in Nashville, TN, our borrower, Yuka Shimizu of Bellevue Children’s Academy, was honored as NADCO’s 2019 Community Cornerstone Diamond Award winner!
Yuka and her husband immigrated to the United States in 1989. They had both been educators in Japan and wanted to enhance the educational experience of their own children, now in the American school system. In 1993, they established Shimizu International, with a focus on tutoring and after school classes. In 2000, they earned Private School Accreditation and their school began with 10 students, including their three children. Unfortunately, soon after, Yuka’s husband became ill with cancer and passed away. A few years later, Yuka was also diagnosed with cancer but is now thankfully a long-term survivor.
Fast forward 20 years, Bellevue Children’s Academy operates from two campuses, employs over 90 educators, and serves over 700 students. The two campuses are utilized year-round by many organizations, including a bi-lingual Japanese school, multiple child enrichment summer programs, continuing education programs for adults, and an exchange program with Chiyoda School in Japan.
The first 504 loan was not provided by Evergreen Business Capital. However, two additional 504 loans were with Evergreen, and the most recent loan was used to construct her high school expansion which included Solar “Green” Energy Eligibility. This year Yuka joined forces with International Schools Partnership, which now provides access to 44 schools around the world. She is a global Community Cornerstone.
In summary, it took two CDC’s, three banks, and three SBA loans to build two campuses in two different cities, and one tiny little lady – to make this vision come true.
