From funding start-ups or expansions to meeting business refinancing needs, having the right amount of capital at the right time to retain or grow a business is important both for business success and economic development. The terms and conditions of capital needed by a business often cannot be provided by conventional bank financing. To fill this need dozens of financing programs have been created over the years at the local, state and federal levels. Keeping apprised of financing programs can be a challenge. Businesses may miss out on opportunities because many programs are not marketed; meaning missed economic development opportunities for the region.
The Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission Business Financing Guide - March 2014 is an attempt to diminish these missed opportunities. Within this Guide we have gathered important information on the less well known to the most prominent and useful business funding programs, so businesses, lenders, economic development professionals and local officials have ready access to key facts and contacts. The Guide also provides information on how the funding programs can be used together, since many business projects involve more than one financing program.