Business lending is core to our work. We’re a gap financer, which means we partner with banks, economic development groups, private investors and business owners.
We’ve done loans since we started in 1986. In 2001, we added microlending to the mix. Through our Microenterprise Loan Program, loans from $500 to $50,000 help entrepreneurs start, expand or transition their business.
This year, we’ve closed 22 microloans. And one of the best parts of our program is the success rate. Over 64 percent of our clients stay in business over five years. Nationwide it’s only about 50 percent.
We believe this success comes from working 1:1 with our clients, coaching and training them for management, bookkeeping, marketing—all the skills they need to run their business.
From Main Street shops to manufacturers, you’ll find hundreds of our loan clients across southwest Minnesota!
