FREE GUIDES FOR RURAL ENTREPRENEURS

Building a business in a rural community isn’t easy, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Communities Unlimited partners with Arkansas small business owners to unlock funding, strengthen operations, and build thriving local businesses.

Ready to move forward? Get your guides and start improving your business today.

Learn what makes a CDFI different

Learn when loans make sense — and how to use them.

Learn when loans make sense — and how to use them.

Arkansas Small Business Loans

Communities Unlimited lends $1,000 to $200,000 to small businesses across rural Arkansas. We are a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and an SBA-approved lender, and we have no minimum credit score. If a bank has already turned you down, that is usually where we start.

You get an Arkansas loan officer who will look at your business plan, your track record and what you are actually trying to build, then tell you straight whether we can lend and what it would take. No call center, no application fee to find out.

What we lend

Loan type Amount What it covers
Startup loans $1,000 – $200,000 Getting open. Available before you have revenue.
Working capital $1,000 – $200,000 Payroll, rent and the gap between invoicing and getting paid
Equipment loans $1,000 – $200,000 Machinery, vehicles, kitchen fit-out, tools
Inventory loans $1,000 – $200,000 Stock ahead of a season or a big order
Term loans $1,000 – $200,000 Expansion, renovation, buying a building or a business
Credit-building loans Smaller amounts Building a business credit profile from nothing
SBA loans Varies by program SBA-backed lending, originated by us

Rates and repayment terms are set case by case. Ask your loan officer what yours would be before you apply anywhere else.

How to apply

  1. Talk to a loan officer first. Email the Arkansas team at candance.brooks@communitiesu.org or call us at (479) 443-2700. Nothing is committed at this stage.
  2. Gather your documents. Two years of personal tax returns for each owner, plus business financials if the business is already operating.
  3. Submit the application. Your officer will tell you which program fits and what it needs.
  4. Decision and closing. We will walk you through what happens and when.

WHO QUALIFIES

Whether you’re launching a new business or expanding an existing one, we offer flexible financing to start a business, including access to micro loans and community development business loans designed to meet the needs of rural entrepreneurs. We also provide credit-building opportunities to strengthen your financial foundation and support long-term success.

There is no minimum credit score. We look at the whole picture: what the business does, what it earns or expects to earn, what you have put in, and whether the plan holds up. Startups with no revenue yet are eligible, which rules out most bank lending and a lot of online lenders too.

WHERE WE WORK

We support entrepreneurs across Arkansas who are looking for the resources and funding to start or grow their businesses, especially in rural and small-town communities.

Whether you are opening your first location or expanding one you have run for years, we lend across the whole range: micro loans of a few thousand dollars, community development business loans, and credit-building loans that let you build a business credit profile while you trade.

We lend across Arkansas. Recent Arkansas lending has gone to businesses in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Jonesboro, Fort Smith, Conway, Paragould, Blytheville, West Memphis, Harrison, Berryville, Eureka Springs, Crossett, Wynne and Hamburg, among others.

If your town is not on that list, it does not mean you are outside the area. Arkansas is the whole footprint. Call and ask.

 

Before You Ask...

Still Have Questions About Small Business Funding?

We’ve Got Answers.

Starting or growing a business (especially in rural communities) comes with a lot of unknowns. Our FAQ covers the essentials, from rural business loans and startup business loans to eligibility and small business financing assistance in Arkansas.

Take a look below to learn more about your options, and if you don’t find what you need, reach out, our team is here to move you forward with confidence.

Arkansas Small Business Loan FAQ

How much can I borrow?

Between $1,000 and $200,000, depending on the business, the purpose and what you can support. Small first loans are normal and we would rather start you at a size you can carry.

What types of small business loans are available in Arkansas?

Startup loans, working capital, equipment, inventory, term loans for expansion, credit-building loans, and SBA-backed loans. See the table above for what each one covers.

How do I qualify for a small business loan in Arkansas?

There is no strict credit score requirement. We look at a range of factors and we lend differently from a bank, so entrepreneurs who do not qualify elsewhere often qualify with us. The fastest way to find out is to call and ask.

Are there loans for startups in Arkansas?

Yes! Communities Unlimited offers loans specifically for startup businesses in Arkansas. Even if the business is new and has not generated revenue, we can assess your plan, your experience and what you are building, and lend against that. This is one of the clearest differences between us and a bank.

What Is an SBA Loan?

An SBA loan is a small business loan partly guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, which makes lenders able to say yes more often. Communities Unlimited is an approved SBA lender, so we originate SBA-backed loans directly rather than referring you elsewhere. SBA loans often carry lower rates and longer repayment periods than conventional lending. Your loan officer will tell you whether an SBA loan fits or whether one of our own programs is a better route.

What is a CDFI?

A CDFI, or Community Development Financial Institution, is a lender certified by the U.S. Treasury to serve communities that mainstream finance has historically passed over. Communities Unlimited is a certified CDFI. It is why we can price and structure loans the way we do, and why a thin credit file is not the end of the conversation.

Can I use your loans to build my business credit in Arkansas?

Yes. Our credit-building loans exist so you can establish a business credit profile while the business trades, which makes the next loan, from us or anyone else, easier to get.

How do I know which loan program is right for my business?

Our team will look at what the business needs and match it to a program in Arkansas to support growth and sustainability. That conversation is free and it is the right first step even if you end up borrowing somewhere else.

Are there any resources besides loans for Arkansas businesses?

Yes, we provide workshops, guides, and consulting services to support business owners in Arkansas with financial education, planning, and growth strategies.

YOUR ARKANSAS SMALL BUSINESS EXPERTS

Director of Lending

Michael Rivera
Area Director

Debra Leach
Economic Development Loan Officer

Candence Brooks
Loan Assistant

Amber McClellan
Yessie Hernandez
Loan Assistant

Yessie Hernandez

Director of Lending

Michael Rivera

Michael Rivera joined Communities Unlimited (CU) as Director of Nuestra Casa in April 2022 and was promoted to Director of Lending in January 2024. He leads a team of nine and oversees the loan process, as well as CU’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) program, which includes small business, consumer, and commercial portfolios.

Michael has more than 15 years of experience in banking and finance. During his time as Director of Nuestra Casa, he led a program that provides small-dollar loans to residents in Colonias for home improvement projects. He holds an Associate of Arts degree in Business Management and Marketing from Athens Technical College.

Phone:(870) 403-3285

Area Director

Debra Leach

Debra Leach, Area Director, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in May 2021. She is responsible for originating quality loans through internal and external referral sources. She also develops strategies to market the bank’s SBA and small business grant programs to entrepreneurs with financing needs. She came to CU with a strong financial background, from her previous roles as a Vice President/Loan Manager for Arvest Bank as well as Vice President of Commercial lending for RCB Bank.

Debra has a BS in Business Administration, Marketing Management Orientation from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo.  

Phone:(405) 250-9316

Economic Development Loan Officer

Candence Brooks

Candence Brooks started at Communities Unlimited (CU) in September 2023 and is an Economic Development Loan Officer. Candence meets with borrowers to develop relationships, helps them get all accurate documents, and makes sure they are properly prepared for the loan process. She guides clients through the loan process and works with the loan committee to ensure that everything is ready for loan closing.

Before coming to CU, Candence worked as a Business Consultant for the A-State Small Business and Technology Development Center. Candence has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Master of Business Administration from Arkansas State University.

Phone:(479) 595-5053

Loan Assistant

Amber McClellan

Amber McClellan, Program Assistant (Loan), originally came to Communities Unlimited in July 2018 as a Receptionist and moved up to Program Assistant in April 2019. In 2020, Amber became the Executive Assistant to the CEO and assisted with AHCC, Loan Closings, and more. She eventually moved into a full-time Loan Assistant position in 2022. In this role, Amber accepts and reviews new loan applications, answers client’s questions, files necessary paperwork, and performs other administrative duties.

Amber attended Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, Arkansas, and is a graduate of Farmington High School.

Phone:(479) 236-4291

Yessie Hernandez

Loan Assistant

Yessie Hernandez

Yessie Hernandez started CU in September 2023 as a Program Assistant (Loan). Yessie assists the lending team by accepting and reviewing new loan applications, answering client questions, filing paperwork, and other administrative duties. 

Yessie has an MBA in Business Administration and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She assists the Lending Team with loan documents and loan closings. 

Phone:(479) 856-4921

STORIES LIKE YOURS

Our Promise

To partner with people who want to escape from persistent poverty and connect them to solutions for achieving sustainable prosperity.

Our Purpose

Talent is equally distributed across the U.S. and opportunity is not. Access to opportunities should not depend on where you live, how much you have in the bank or what you look like.

Our Approach

Through human connection and ingenuity combined with cutting-edge technology and expertise, Communities Unlimited connects people to solutions that sustain healthy businesses, healthy communities, and healthy lives.

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Communities Unlimited, Inc.
3 East Colt Square Drive
Fayetteville, AR  72703

P (479) 443-2700
F (479) 443-5036

This institution is an EOE Disability/Veteran employer, provider, and lender.
Persons with speech or hearing impairment may call toll-free 1-800-877-0996 for service in English and Spanish

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development