Originally established in 1986 as an alliance of Vietnamese, Cambodian, Loatian, and Ethiopian community organizations in Harris County, the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services has grown from an organization focused on refugee resettlement to one that benefits members of all nationalities across a multitude of sectors. Its Asset Building Department maintains two Individual Development Account programs (one with 1:1 match rate and other with a 2:1) and a micro-lending program. The micro-lending program provides loans of $500 to $15,000 to help refugees start a business, along with requiring them to take a business development-training course. The Alliance is exploring the process of owning and operating affordable housing, provides social services, and has just started a community garden project to train refugees with farming skills.