Kiva Crowdsourced Borrowing Opportunities

The Peoples Food Coop (PFC), Edison Neighborhood Association, Kalamazoo Eastside Neighborhood Association, and SCORE Kalamazoo/SW Michigan have partnered with LISC and KIVA to provide access to crowdsourced borrowing opportunities for qualifying businesses in the Kalamazoo community. Each has its own criteria and a primary focus area they consider before giving their endorsement.

Their primary focus areas include:

• SCORE is interested in endorsing businesses that support our goals for creating a sustainable businesses and job creation.
• People's Food Coop exists to create access for all to food that is healthy for people, land and the economy. To that end, we work to create opportunities for local food businesses to thrive in the marketplace and have positive social impact.
• Edison Neighborhood Association is interested in supporting projected that have an impact on creating a more vibrant and active neighborhood.
• Kalamazoo Eastside Neighborhood Association is interested in supporting projected that have an impact on creating a more vibrant and active neighborhood.

Any of the above endorsements, a sort of social underwriting, allows for a LISC 1-to-1 match on loans, reducing the challenge of becoming fully funded.

*NOTE: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kiva US is offering small business applicants:

• Expanded loan sizes, now up to $15,000
• Grace Periods between 1-6 months
• Terms: zero interest, 24 months to repay on $5k loans, 36 months to repay on $15k

Kiva has reduced the number of contributors required during the private fundraising period, which will help get projects onto the full Kiva platform for public crowdsourcing more quickly.

Here is a general outline of the program based on the status of the applicant business.

$1,000-$3000

• No online presence
• Pre-revenue business
• Limited local description
• Private Fundraising—5 lenders
• Term—12-18 months

$3,500-$6,000

• Basic online presence
• Operating less than 1 year
• Compelling story and loan description
• Private Fundraising—5-10 lenders
• Term—24 months

$6,500-$15,0000

• Strong online presence
• Strong references
• More established business
• Private Fundraising—5-15 lenders
• Term—36 months

$15,000 A borrower’s starting loan range will be determined by:

• Debt-to-income ratio – the amount of monthly income that goes towards paying off monthly debt
• Proof of separate bank accounts for business and personal finances
• Government-issued business proof (local, state, or federal)
• Private Fundraising—5-30 lenders
• Term—36 months

Please click the Apply to KIVA button, answer all questions, and your form will go to the endorsing organizations for consideration. Once staff members have reviewed, they will get back to you with any questions, and next steps.

Capital Consortium

The Kalamazoo Capital Consortium is a group of nonprofit and for profit commercial lenders who work together with the Greater Kalamazoo Business Resource Group to improve access to capital for small businesses throughout the city.

If you are a business owner in Kalamazoo County, and would like to apply for a loan from one of the Consortium members, please complete the Financing Request Form.

This form helps Capital Consortium members learn more about your business and your capital needs. Your information will be shared with the Consortium members and if your project and capital needs match available resources, members of the consortium will contact you directly within ten (10) business days.

Please note this form is not a loan or grant application and there is no guarantee of approval from any of the members. If one of the Consortium members is interested in working with your business, they will contact you for more information.

Kalamazoo Small Business Loan Fund

Kalamazoo Small Business Loan Funds Available Mission: Drive impact by leading shared efforts that engage diverse people, ideas and resources. The Kalamazoo Small Business Loan Fund, established in partnership with the City of Kalamazoo and supported by the Foundation for Excellence, is intended to be a bridge loan to provide local businesses time and opportunity to take advantage of the current COVID-19 SBA Loans, as well as state and federal loan assistance programs.

Huntington Bank's Lift-Local Business Lending Program

Huntington has announced a new $25 million, small-business lending program focused on serving minority, women and veteran-owned businesses. Under the new program, businesses can secure SBA-guaranteed loans for as little as $1,000 and up to $150,000.
Apply to Lift-Local.