state Official Nebraska Government Website

Loan & Loan Guarantee

All known public business financing programs including loan, loan guarantee and grant programs are listed below. If you do NOT yet have a business plan it is strongly recommended you write one before contacting a bank or program listed below for a loan.

There are no 'grants' for the general startup and operating costs of a for-profit business.  For grant information, click here.    

Do you have a business plan yet? If not, go here for plan development, counseling and training resources


Business Loan & Loan Guarantee Programs  

1.  Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - Nebraska Department of Economic Development
     CDBG 'Re-Use' Loan Funds Available by Community

2.  Small Business Administration (SBA)
 
- Understand the basics of obtaining business financing
  - Quick Reference to SBA Loan Guarantee Programs
  -  7A Loan Guarantee Program--- other SBA loan programs 
  - SBA Loan Application Checklist  - NBDC: SBA Loan application counseling 
  -  SBA: Nebraska District Office 
  -  SBA: Nebraska Business Training & Events Calendar 
  
3. SBA 504 Direct Loans:  long-term, fixed-rate financing to acquire major fixed assets 
   - NEDCO/Nebraska Economic Development Corporation
   - CDR/Community Development Resources

 4. Disaster Assistance Programs:
    SBA: Disaster Loans / Current Nebraska Declarations/
    FEMA: Nebraska Disaster Declarations  /  NEMA: Nebraska Emergency Management Agency 
    USDA/FSA: Agricultural Disaster Assistance

                Microenterprise (5 or fewer employees) and other direct loans:

5.  MAPA:
Revolving Loan Fund - counties of Washington, Sarpy and Douglas
6.  REAP: Rural Enterprise Assistance Project: Microenterprise Direct Loans
7.  Nebraska Enterprise Fund: Small/Micro Business Financing / Microenterprise Programs
8.  CDR: Community Development Resources, Inc.: Business Loans
9.  Northeast Nebraska Development District: Business Loans in northeast Nebraska 
10.  Southeast Nebraska Development District: 402-475-2560 (voice) or 402-475-2794 (fax)
 ________________________

11.  USDA: Programs below are limited to counties with less than 50,000 population:
   ----Rural Business Programs
   ----Nebraska Staff - USDA County Offices
   ----Farm Service - Farm Loan Programs

                 Other Business Financing Programs & Information: 

12.  Nebraska Talent & Innovation Initiative
13.  Nebraska Progress Loan Fund - loan range $50K-$2M
14.  Invest Nebraska Angel Sidecar Fund - Seed capital - $50K-$500K in convertable debt or equity
15.  Asset Modernization Initiative - Nebraska Investment Finance Authority (NIFA)
16.  LB 840:
Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act -- LB840 Guide 
17.  Nebraska Energy Office: Loans for Energy Savings / Pollution Prevention  
18.  TIF: Tax Increment Financing in Nebraska & TIF Primer: Nat. Asso. of Realtors 
       TIF: Annual Report to Legislature
19. New Market Tax Credits & Loan Program
20. Raising Small Business Capital in Nebraska through Securities Sales - Nebr. Dept. of Banking & Finance

* Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance -- searchable directory of all federal loan, grant and technical assistance programs

Venture Capital    

    - Networks -
  Invest Nebraska 
  Midlands Venture Forum 
  Nebraska Angels, Inc. 

    - Fund -
Nebraska Global- a private venture capital fund focusing on software ventures in Nebraska

 

Testimonials

Michael Herre, President
Fremont Contract Carriers, Fremont, NE

“As a state, Nebraska is a great place to start a business primarily due to the quality of people and its location. The resources that Nebraska offers are very competitive cost-wise with other states in the same region. Nebraska is blessed with many transportation services such as truckload, less-than-truckload, flatbed, bulk, rail, overseas, and more. No matter what the need, Nebraska transportation resources are up to the task of satisfying every need.”

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