Founded in 1975 by leaders in the Southeast Asian community to help the thousands of Southeast Asians fleeing Vietnam, the Southeast Asian Community Center (SEACC) initially advocated for services and the rights of citizenship for Southeast Asians, and helped immigrants transition and integrate into American society. Recognizing that many immigrants had limited employment options due to their lack of English fluency or appropriate training, SEACC helped catalyze the first technical assistance and microloan programs for small businesses in the nation. Since these programs launched in the mid 1980s, SEACC has supported more than 2,000 business clients in the San Francisco region. Current services include microlending to startup and early stage businesses, referrals for larger loans, and free technical assistance to all San Francisco small businesses.