LOAN — NC Rural Center: Microenterprise Loan Program

Local Food Campaign Intern

Who Is Eligible? The NC Rural Center has funding to work with individuals who have sound ideas for starting or expanding a small business but may not qualify for bank credit. Farms, food businesses and others in rural NC are encouraged to apply.

Our basic requirements are:

  • You wish to start or expand a small business.
  • Your business is located in one of the 85 rural counties of North Carolina.
  • Your business has fewer than 10 full-time employees.
  • You have a credit score of at least 575 with no outstanding judgments or liens.
  • You’re at least 18 years old.
  • You’re a U.S. citizen/permanent resident and resident of North Carolina.
  • Your total project cost does not exceed $50,000.
  • And, of course, you have to have a sound business idea.

How much: $500- $25,000 

The program has three components:

  • Standard loans, which are available in amounts up to $25,000.
  • Express loans, which are capped at $5,000. Loan decisions can be made within five business days.
  • All loans are offered in combination with business planning and technical assistance. We give special emphasis to serving rural, low-income, female and minority borrowers.

Website: http://www.ncruralcenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82&Itemid=217

Contact:  Barry Ryan, Director of Entrepreneurship, at 919-250-4314.

 

The Rural Center is conducting workshops across the state about Microenterprise Loans from now to June across the state.

Here’s the schedule:

Feb. 2 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.Johnston Community College, Clayton

Feb. 2 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro

Feb. 3 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.Surry Community College, Dobson

Feb. 9 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.Carteret Community College, Morehead City

Feb. 10 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.Vance/Granville Community College South Campus, Creedmoor

Feb. 11 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.Stanly Community College, Albemarle

Feb. 17 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.Craven Community College, New Bern

March 5 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.Brunswick Community College, Leland

March 9 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.Halifax Community College, Weldon

March 31 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central Carolina Community College, Sanford

April 7 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.Wayne Community College, Goldsboro

April 16 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.Southeastern Community College, Whiteville

April 20 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.Brunswick Community College, Bolivia

April 22 Business Resource Alliance 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wake Technical Community College, Cary

April 23 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.Vance/Granville Community College, Louisburg

April 29 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.Wilkes Community College, West Jefferson

April 30 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.Surry Community College, Yadkinville

May 4 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.Tri-County Community College, Marble

May 5 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 10 a.m. to noonRichmond Community College, Laurinburg

May 5 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Southwestern Community College, Sylva

May 6 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 10 a.m. to noonAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Marshall

May 7 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.Brunswick Community College, Carolina Shores

May 7 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 10 a.m. to noonAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Asheville

May 12 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.Stanly Community College, Albemarle

May 14 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.Halifax Community College, Weldon

May 19 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.James Sprunt Community College, Kenansville

June 2 Microenterprise Loan Program Seminar 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Sampson Community College, Clinton

LOAN AGENCY — Mountain Bizworks

Local Food Campaign Intern

Who Is Eligible? Financing is available to small businesses, with a particular emphasis on family-sized farms and other food producers and agri-businesses.

What Activities Are Eligible? Loan capital may be used for land acquisition, farm and business expansion, equipment purchase, seasonal crop and production loans, and working capital.

How much? Loans range from $1,000 to $150,000 and sometimes more.

Website: www.mountainbizworks.org

Contact: Call 828-253-2834, or email info@mountainbizworks.org, to ask about accessing capital.

GRANT — USDA NRCS: Conservation Stewardship Program

Local Food Campaign Intern

Who Is Eligible? Applicants may include individuals, legal entities, joint operations or Indian tribes that meet the stewardship threshold for at least two priority resource concerns when they apply. Eligible lands include private and Tribal agricultural lands, cropland, grassland, pastureland, rangeland and nonindustrial private forest land. Conservation Stewardship Program funds are available to all producers, regardless of operation size or type of crops produced.

What Activities Are Eligible? Priority resource concerns for cropland include (at least two must be met for program eligibility):

  • Fields are managed with few signs of erosion or soil being carried to field edges or water bodies.
  • Crop residues remain on fields after harvest, or cover crops are planted.
  • Grass or woody buffer areas intercept field runoff prior to entering streams, ditches, lakes, etc.
  • Nutrients are applied according to land grant university recommendations.
  • Areas on your farm are actively managed for wildlife habitat.
  • If you irrigate your cropland, water application is scheduled based on soil moisture monitoring and/or evapotranspiration monitoring.

Please see self-screening checklist for more details on eligible activities, as well as criteria for: grassland, pastureland, and nonindustrial private forest land.

How much: Conservation Stewardship Program payments are tied to conservation performance. Both annual and supplemental payments are available. Maximum payment will not exceed $200,000 for fiscal years 2014 through 2018.

Website: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/programs/financial/csp/?cid=nrcs143_008316

Contact: Contact your local USDA Service Center: www.nrcs.usda.gov/getstarted.

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