Vocab
Now You're Talking My Language...
Finding alternative ways of providing capital and small business resources to people who need them can sound really confusing! While much of it sounds hard to grasp, understanding it will ultimately give you a better idea of how we can help.
NMTC ( New Markets Tax Credits )
NMTC are used to attract private capital into low-income communities by permitting individual and corporate investors to receive a tax credit against their federal income tax in exchange for making equity investments in specialized financial intermediaries called CDEs or CDFIs.
CDE ( Community Development Entity )
CDEs are domestic corporations or partnerships that act as intermediary vehicles for the provision of loans, investments, or financial counseling in low-income communities. Certification as a CDE allows organizations to participate either directly or indirectly in the New Markets Tax Credit Program.
CDFI ( Community Development Financial Institution )
CDFIs are private, mission-driven financial institutions with community development as their primary mission. While CDFIs share a common mission, they have a variety of structures and development lending goals. There are six basic types of CDFIs: community development banks, community development loan funds, community development credit unions, microenterprise funds, community development corporation-based lenders and investors, and community development venture funds. All are market-driven, locally-controlled, private-sector organizations.
CDFI Fund ( Community Development Financial Institutions Fund )
The CDFI Fund, part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, plays a unique and important role in generating economic growth in America. By fostering the creation and expanding the capacity of community-based financial institutions that specialize in providing affordable credit, capital, and financial services, the CDFI Fund builds businesses, creates jobs, and revitalizes neighborhoods.
MBE ( Minority-owned Business Enterprise )
A Minority Business Enterprises is a business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more minority persons. A racial minority is, for the purposes of the State of Missouri’s MBE program, defined as individuals who are Black, American Indian, Hispanic, Asian American and other similar racial minority groups as per Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 33 Section 33.750. Also included are Alaskan Natives, Pacific Islanders, and Aleuts.
WBE ( Women-owned Business Enterprise )
A Woman Business Enterprise is a business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by a woman.
SBA ( Small Business Administration )
The SBA was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. We recognize that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America's future, and to helping the United States compete in today's global marketplace. Although SBA has grown and evolved in the years since it was established in 1953, the bottom line mission remains the same. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam.
Microloan
Microloans are small business loans that are usually lent for up to $50,000. Microloans are generally used for start-up cash for new small businesses or working capital for existing small businesses.
Microloans can be used for many other purposes as well including the purchase of equipment, inventory, machinery, fixtures, furniture, supplies, and even to purchase another business.
Microloan funds are distributed by designated community-based non-profit intermediary lenders such as a CDFI. In addition to providing small business financing, many of these lenders also provide management and technical assistance to their clients.