NCRC and Small Business

727 15th Street, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: 202/628-8866
Fax: 202)/ 628-9800
Web: www.ncrc.org

Access to Data 
NCRC has successfully campaigned to make small business lending data available to the public to ensure transparency in bank lending. NCRC has also taken direct action to increase small business lending access by promoting the $100 million yearly Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) bill. 

ARC & NCRC Report
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) contracted with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) to conduct this study as part of ARC’s effort to develop Appalachia through increasing access to credit and capital for small businesses. Heightened capital flows to small businesses would bolster the economic development of the region by creating jobs, diversifying the economy, and further developing an entrepreneurial class in Appalachia. This study found that banks have committed substantial amounts of community development financing to the region and are responding well to the credit needs of Appalachian small businesses in minority communities. The study recommends that stakeholders work together to close remaining credit gaps and needs in Appalachia.  Click here for the full report.

CommunityExpress 

NCRC's Banker/Community Collaborative Council developed the CommunityExpress program in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This innovative program combines SBA guaranteed loans from banks and free technical assistance from community-based organizations to both finance and guide entrepreneurs. 

Description: The program reaches small businesses in designated urban and rural low- and moderate-income areas, as well as firms owned by women, veterans, and minorities. Loans may be used for most business purposes, including start-up, expansion, equipment purchases, working capital, inventory and real estate acquisition.

Outcome: Since the program's inception in 1999, over 400 community-based technical assistance providers and 100 lenders across the nation have partnered to make over 18,000 loans totaling $476 million. These lenders include large banks such as US Bank and Wells Fargo, smaller banks such as TD Banknorth and Arkansas Valley State Bank, as well as credit unions and non-bank lenders.

DC Minority Business Enterprise Center (DCMBEC) 
Homepage: http://www.dcmbec.org/

DCMBEC is a business consulting development agency that increases parity in business performance between minority and non-minority owned companies. DCMBEC utilizes strategic partnerships and the diverse business and professional backgrounds of its principals to improve the performance and profitability of minority-owned companies'. DCMBEC provides technical assistance and training, incubator space, networking opportunities and a host of other services to minority business entrepreneurs. It is the premiere business development agency of its kind and is cited as a national model for its outstanding record of success. 

Description: DCMBEC works with firms that meet the following criteria:

• Must be at least 51% owned by an ethnic minority (not gender based)
• Located within the National Capital Region
• A for-profit entity generating, or having the potential to generate, $500,000 or more in annual revenues

Outcome: In the past three years, DCMBEC has helped 431 clients and created 783 jobs, and has helped minority-owned businesses secure $93.9 million in procurement contracts, $27 million in the first two quarters of 2007 alone. The NCRC DCMBEC is ranked #3 in the nation among all similar minority business development agencies.

Services: http://www.dcmbec.org/services.html

Click Here for Director Owen Jackson's Profile

CDFI 

NCRC has founded a new Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) to facilitate the origination of small business loans to minority and women owned businesses and entrepreneurs. The Community Development Fund is a subsidiary of NCRC and will become operational in 2008 utilizing public and private sector investments and support.