Asian Services in Action, Inc. (Asia) in Cleveland, OH

Asian Services in Action (ASIA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1995 and headquartered in Akron, Ohio, serving immigrant, refugee, and native-born communities across Northeast Ohio. The organization operates two Federally Qualified Health Centers (ICHC) with locations in Cleveland and Akron, both accredited as Patient-Centered Medical Homes. ASIA's mission focuses on empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander communities while addressing systemic barriers to access across languages and cultures.

ASIA offers a comprehensive suite of services including healthcare on a sliding scale, the Apex Fund for Economic Opportunity (small business microloans), legal services (immigration law, family law, estate planning), interpreting and translation services, community mental health support, youth and senior programming, financial education, employment assistance, and social services for vulnerable populations. Their International Community Health Center specifically serves those facing economic or language barriers to care. The Apex Fund microloan program targets low-income entrepreneurs who cannot access conventional bank financing.

What distinguishes ASIA is its integrated, whole-person approach combining healthcare, legal support, and economic empowerment through a single non-profit structure. They emphasize cultural and linguistic competency across all services, employ bilingual staff, and operate on a sliding-scale fee structure to ensure accessibility. The organization has earned accreditation as Patient-Centered Medical Homes and maintains strong community partnerships with foundations like the Akron Community Foundation.

ASIA operates as a legitimate non-profit with established community roots, 51-200 employees, and documented grant funding. However, potential borrowers should note that microloan programs typically serve nascent or under-resourced businesses and may have stricter qualification requirements than conventional small business lenders. The organization's primary focus is community health and social services rather than lending, with microloans representing one component of their broader mission.