AIM Credit Repair Receives a Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce Micro-Grant
AIM Credit Repair Receives a Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce Micro-Grant
Category: Company News • Reading Time: 4 min read • Author: Carlos Hawkins, Founder of AIM Credit Repair LLC
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE
AIM Credit Repair LLC is a credit services organization. You have the right to dispute inaccurate information on your credit report for free by contacting the credit bureaus directly. You are not required to use a credit repair company or hire anyone to assist you with this process.
For free resources and information about your rights, visit:
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: consumerfinance.gov
- Minnesota Attorney General Consumer Protection: ag.state.mn.us
Minnesota Residents: Under the Minnesota Credit Services Organization Act, you have the right to cancel any credit services agreement within five days, as provided by Minnesota law, without penalty. You will not be charged any fees before services are performed.
On October 15, 2026, the Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce presented AIM Credit Repair LLC with a Q3 micro-grant through its Premium Member Micro-Grant Program. Yolanda Pierson, who became the Chamber's President and CEO this year, presented the check at the Chamber's Big Check Presentation, held at Nourish.
The program is part of the Chamber's 10,000 Black Business Program. It awards grants each quarter to premium members to help Black-owned businesses in Minnesota grow, and the Chamber lists Huntington Bank and The McKnight Foundation as its funding partners.
"I heard a lot of no's"
Right after the check was presented, Carlos recorded a short thank-you. Here it is in his words:
"I'd like to say thank you to the Chamber for awarding us with a micro-grant. It really means a lot to me because as I went through the process of building the business, I heard a lot of no's. And I work in an industry that you hear a lot of skepticism about."
That skepticism is earned. Credit repair has a reputation problem, and a lot of it comes from companies that charge up front, promise results they cannot deliver, and disappear. So when a Black business chamber chooses to invest in a credit repair company, that means something to the people who run it.
Carlos said he does his best to help as many Minnesotans as he can, so they can see what good credit can do for them.
Why AIM exists
AIM stands for Ambition and Movement. The reason behind it is personal.
"One day my brother was released from prison after doing some time, and I picked him up to take him to get a cell phone as a reward," Carlos said. "We got to the cell phone place and his cell phone application got denied."
His brother had served his time. He was still being turned down.
"If you saw the hurt in his face, you'll understand why I got so devoted to … helping individuals with credit issues," Carlos said, "because I felt that with all the time he did, he's still paying a price for his past mistakes, just like your credit."
That is the idea AIM was built on. In Carlos's words: "I don't think your past should impact your future."
It is also why we focus on what is fair to dispute. Under federal law, most negative information can stay on a credit report for up to seven years, and some for longer, even after the debt is resolved. What does not belong there at all is information that is inaccurate, incomplete, or cannot be verified. That is the work: finding it and disputing it, the right way.
Thank you
Thank you to Yolanda Pierson and the Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce for your support, and for the work you do for Black-owned businesses across this state. Carlos put it simply: thank you for letting us "be part of the club."
If your credit report has something on it that does not look right, a free consultation is the easiest way to find out whether it is worth disputing.
Written by Carlos Hawkins, founder of AIM Credit Repair LLC, serving Twin Cities clients for more than eight years. AIM's approach to consumer credit has been covered by the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
This article is for general information. AIM Credit Repair LLC is a credit services organization, not a law firm. Individual results vary, and no company can legally remove accurate, verifiable information from a credit report. For free information about your rights, visit consumerfinance.gov or the Minnesota Attorney General's Office.
Frequently asked questions
What grant did AIM Credit Repair receive?
AIM Credit Repair LLC received a micro-grant from the Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce through its Premium Member Micro-Grant Program, part of the Chamber's 10,000 Black Business Program. Yolanda Pierson, the Chamber's President and CEO, presented the check at the Chamber's Big Check Presentation on October 15, 2026.
What is the Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce Micro-Grant Program?
It is a quarterly grant program for the Chamber's premium members that supports Black-owned businesses in Minnesota with grants for business development, operations, training, and growth. The Chamber lists Huntington Bank and The McKnight Foundation as funding partners.
What does AIM stand for?
AIM stands for Ambition and Movement. Founder Carlos Hawkins says watching his brother get denied a cell phone after serving time is why he became devoted to helping people with credit.