When U.S. Army veteran Maxwell Setsoafia returned from Afghanistan, he carried with him a deep understanding of how critical accessible healthcare can be. Years later, that insight inspired him to launch VoltaMed Community Clinic in Jurupa Valley, an organization dedicated to providing medical care to underserved populations across the Inland Empire.
“I was witnessing something that troubled me deeply,” Maxwell recalls. “People in my community had real fear and misconceptions about healthcare. Trust in hospitals was low, and too many people were going without the care they desperately needed. I realized I couldn’t just be an onlooker anymore—I had to be part of the change.”
In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Maxwell founded VoltaMed with the goal of taking healthcare directly to the people who need it most. Starting with a mobile clinic and partnering with a center in Los Angeles, VoltaMed began serving unhoused residents in Skid Row, seniors unable to leave their homes, and communities along the Riverside Riverbed. The team provided COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, and primary care in places where access was nearly nonexistent.
As the pandemic eased and demand for COVID-related services declined, the community’s need for trusted, accessible healthcare remained. A comprehensive needs assessment revealed a striking gap: only 17% of Jurupa Valley’s population was adequately served by existing medical facilities. That data guided VoltaMed’s next step.
On October 1, 2022, the organization opened its brick-and-mortar clinic, offering primary care, mental health services, and specialty referrals. “We structured VoltaMed as a nonprofit because we believe healthcare is a necessity, not a privilege,” Maxwell explains. “Everyone deserves excellent care, regardless of gender, creed, religion, or socioeconomic background.”
Today, VoltaMed’s nine-person medical team continues to expand its reach. The mobile unit still visits schools, churches, and homeless encampments, bringing the clinic to people where they are. But sustaining this mission has required more than compassion. It has taken business knowledge, networks, and access to capital—resources that many traditional lenders overlook.
That’s where First Community Capital and California’s SCALE Network made all the difference. As the flagship program of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), SCALE (Sucess, Capital Access, and Leadership for Entrepreneurs) connects mission-driven entrepreneurs with the technical assistance, business guidance, and funding they need to grow sustainably. Through SCALE, First Community Capital provided VoltaMed with hands-on business support and a $25,000 loan that helped the clinic maintain payroll during a challenging period.
“We’re proof that when California invests in programs like SCALE and community lenders like First Community Capital, they’re not just supporting businesses—they’re investing in healthier, stronger communities,” Maxwell says.
Thanks to the combination of Maxwell’s vision, First Community Capital’s support, and California’s commitment to inclusive growth, VoltaMed is transforming what community healthcare looks like in the Inland Empire.