Fund your business with the Lakeshore Capital Consortium
The Lakeshore Capital Consortium is a group of nonprofit lenders, for-profit lenders, and other funders, who work together within Van Buren County, Michigan, to improve access to capital for small businesses throughout the Lakeshore area. Member organizations provide loans, grants, and technical assistance to small businesses in order to help them start and grow.
If you are a business owner in Van Buren County, and would like to apply for a loan from one of the Consortium members, please complete the Financing Request Form.
This form helps Capital Consortium members learn more about your business and your capital needs. Once a completed form is received, it will be forwarded to the members of the Capital Consortium for review. If they are interested in moving forward with your project, you will be contacted within 10 business days.
Please note this form is not a loan or grant application and there is no guarantee of approval from any of the members. If one of the Consortium members is interested in working with your business, they will contact you for more information.
Questions?
Debi Howe, Director c/o 3501 Lake St Kalamazoo, MI 49048 (269) 207-0747 Send emailFund your business with the Kalamazoo Capital Consortium
The Kalamazoo Capital Consortium is a group of nonprofit and for profit commercial lenders who work together with the Greater Kalamazoo Business Resource Group to improve access to capital for small businesses throughout the city.
If you are a business owner in Kalamazoo County, and would like to apply for a loan from one of the Consortium members, please complete the Financing Request Form.
This form helps Capital Consortium members learn more about your business and your capital needs. Once a completed form is received, it will be forwarded to the members of the Capital Consortium for review. If they are interested in moving forward with your project, you will be contacted within 10 business days.
You must complete the form online and click Submit. You may email attachments or this printed and completed document to Debi Howe at debihowe1960@gmail.com. If you have extra attachments you may email them as well. If you have any questions call Debi Howe at (269) 207-0747.
Please note this form is not a loan or grant application and there is no guarantee of approval from any of the members. If one of the Consortium members is interested in working with your business, they will contact you for more information.
Kiva Crowdsourced Borrowing Opportunities
At Kiva, we believe that a vibrant small business sector can create jobs and economic vitality in otherwise-marginalized communities, and help to combat this creeping inequality.
The Peoples Food Coop (PFC), Edison Neighborhood Association, Kalamazoo Eastside Neighborhood Association, and SCORE Kalamazoo/SW Michigan have partnered with LISC and KIVA to provide access to crowdsourced borrowing opportunities for qualifying businesses in the Kalamazoo community. Each has its own criteria and a primary focus area they consider before giving their endorsement.
Their primary focus areas include:
- SCORE is interested in endorsing businesses that support our goals for creating a sustainable businesses and job creation.
- People’s Food Coop exists to create access for all to food that is healthy for people, land and the economy. To that end, we work to create opportunities for local food businesses to thrive in the marketplace and have positive social impact.
- Edison Neighborhood Association is interested in supporting projected that have an impact on creating a more vibrant and active neighborhood.
- Kalamazoo Eastside Neighborhood Association is interested in supporting projected that have an impact on creating a more vibrant and active neighborhood.
Any of the above endorsements, a sort of social underwriting, allows for a LISC 1-to-1 match on loans, reducing the challenge of becoming fully funded.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kiva US is offering small business applicants:
- Expanded loan sizes, now up to $15,000
- Grace Periods between 1-6 months
- Terms: zero interest, 24 months to repay on $5k loans, 36 months to repay on $15k
Kiva has reduced the number of contributors required during the private fundraising period, which will help get projects onto the full Kiva platform for public crowdsourcing more quickly.
Here is a general outline of the program based on the status of the applicant business.
$1,000-$3000
- No online presence
- Pre-revenue business
- Limited local description
- Private Fundraising—5 lenders
- Term—12-18 months
$3,500-$6,000
- Basic online presence
- Operating less than 1 year
- Compelling story and loan description
- Private Fundraising—5-10 lenders
- Term—24 months
$6,500-$15,000
- Strong online presence
- Strong references
- More established business
- Private Fundraising—5-15 lenders
- Term—36 months
$15,000
- Strong online presence
- Strong references
- More established business
- Private Fundraising—5-15 lenders
- Term—36 months
A borrower’s starting loan range will be determined by:
- Debt-to-income ratio – the amount of monthly income that goes towards paying off monthly debt
- Proof of separate bank accounts for business and personal finances
- Government-issued business proof (local, state, or federal)
- Private Fundraising—5-30 lenders
- Term—36 months
Click the Apply to KIVA button, answer all questions, and your form will go to the endorsing organizations for consideration. Once staff members have reviewed, they will get back to you with any questions, and next steps.
