Betsy Biemann, CEO of Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI)

Investing in Communities: Betsy Biemann on the Mission of CEI 

In this episode of The Boulos Beat, recorded in December 2025, guest host Drew Sigfridson sits down with Betsy Biemann, CEO of Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), to talk about her path from a Rotary Fellowship in Kenya to leadership roles at the Rockefeller Foundation—and ultimately to leading one of the country’s top Community Development Financial Institutions. 

Drew and Betsy dive into CEI’s mission to support low-income communities through financing, business advising, and targeted investments in sectors like farming and food manufacturing, aquaculture, childcare and renewable energy. They also discuss CEI’s impact nationwide, including advancing affordable and workforce housing and rural manufacturing through key tax credit programs. 

The conversation touches on how CEI has helped small business owners navigate the evolving federal policy and economic landscape and why their work supporting entrepreneurs and local economies is more important than ever.