Center for Rural Affairs achieves top 10 in national lending

Small Towns
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Rhea Landholm, brand marketing and communications manager, [email protected], 402.687.2100 ext 1025

LYONS, NEBRASKA -  The Center for Rural Affairs ranked number nine in the U.S. for the number of Small Business Administration microloans placed in fiscal year 2016.    

The Center provides lending, training, networking and technical assistance to startup and existing small businesses in Nebraska.

The ranking is done by the Small Business Administration Office of Economic Opportunity, and is announced at the close of the Small Business Administration’s fiscal year.

“Making the top 10 list is a testament to staff who believe in our mission and work extremely hard to meet the goals of the program,” said Jeff Reynolds, of the Center for Rural Affairs. “Not many, if any, rural only programs make this list, but we do.”

Staff closed 101 small business microloans for a total of $575,105 in 2016. For a list of all ranked lenders, see the Small Business Administration website.

“I am very proud of our staff and all they are doing to make a difference in rural Nebraska,” Reynolds said. “This is an incredible achievement. Onward and upward as we help entrepreneurs build small businesses and create vibrant small towns and rural communities.”

During the Center for Rural Affairs’ fiscal year 2016, staff placed 123 loans totaling $1,739,880 and provided 2,372 entrepreneurs with training and assistance. Loans up to $150,000 are provided through the lending programs.

 

The Center for Rural Affairs is a private nonprofit specializing in strengthening small businesses, rural communities, and family farms and ranches.

Partial funding is received from the U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Business and Innovation Act through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, U.S. Department of Treasury, Peter Kiewit Foundation and other sources. All Small Business Administration funded programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. This institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.