Expanding economic opportunities for underserved people and communities by providing access to the capital needed to prosper
LENDING
Communities Unlimited is a U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).We expand economic opportunities for underserved people and communities by providing access to the capital they need to prosper. We offer a variety of lending opportunities for small businesses, water/wastewater needs, and housing.
Communities Unlimited makes loans to small businesses to position them for profitable growth leading to new jobs and local economic development. With loans of $1000 to $100,000, we fill gaps in small business financing. Below is additional information about how you can connect with our lending staff to inquire about a small business loan.
Communities Unlimited was certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in 2001. Communities Unlimited has over $16 million in assets and has made over $45 million in loans to small rural communities and small businesses in 24 states.
Small Business Loans
Loan Applications
Loan Information Flyers
We make loans to small businesses to position them for profitable growth with funding provided by Wells Fargo. See more about our loan products
Microloans are designed for women, low-income, veteran and minority entrepreneurs in need of small amounts of financial assistance.
English Flyer
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We make loans to small businesses to position them for profitable growth leading to new jobs and economic development. See more about our small business loans
LENDING STORIES
A Small Village Gets Big Help
The Village of Creola is an incorporated village in Grant Parish, Louisiana. It is located along the southern border of…
Oklahoma Public Works Authority Receives Loan For Improvements
The small town of Boynton, Oklahoma, is about 17 miles from Muskogee, Oklahoma. The town was built in 1903 and named…
Arkansas Small Business Builds Success One Piece At A Time
Matt Smith owns Machinewerx CNC in Hartford, Arkansas. Machinewerx CNC is a precision machine shop that manufactures…
CDFI Loan Gets Restaurant Owner Exactly What Lady Ordered
When searching for a small business loan to grow her restaurant, Sforenia Robinson was referred to Communities…
From Hand-Dug Wells To Providing Water To Others
The D Bar B Water Supply Corporation (WSC) has a long history of Communities Unlimited (CU) assistance from an original…
Oklahoma Town Gets Funding For Leaking Standpipe
In north-central Nowata County, Lenapah serves about 323 people in less than a square mile. Lenapah is primarily an…
Arkansas CDFI Coalition
The following is a guest post from Deborah Temple with the Arkansas CDFI Coalition: The Arkansas CDFI Coalition is a…
A LEAP OF FAITH TAKES A MEMPHIS ENTREPRENEUR ON A GLORIOUS JOURNEY
Kristen Porter wanted to have her clothing line be an expression of her faith. Her personal journey woven into the…
TEXAS FAMILY RECEIVES RUNNING WATER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES
Eyeka Davis from Madisonville, Texas knows all too well about the daily struggles to provide for her two disabled…
CU Comes to the Rescue as Old West Mobile Home Park Faces Hurdles
Old West Mobile Home Park is a small mobile home park community and water system that is located off McCormick Road on…
Where Are They Now: PA Coaching and Consulting
This month marks the one year anniversary of Paula Anderson receiving a small business loan from Communities Unlimited…
Nacogdoches, TX Restaurant Owner Receives Loan to Open New Restaurant
Old Tyler Road Café LLC is located in Nacogdoches, Texas, and is the home of delicious foods and great music. According…
Water & Wastewater Loans
Communities Unlimited offers financing to rural communities and tribal nations to improve and maintain their drinking water and wastewater systems.
Eligibility includes local government, nonprofit corporations, and tribal nations that,
- Serve a significant number of low-income customers;
- Population of < 20,000;
- Have the cash flow for debt service or have permanent takeout financing; and,
- Are willing to accept no-cost technical assistance if needed.
Emergency Financing
In the event of a natural disaster or catastrophic system failure, emergency loans can be processed within 1 – 3 business days.
Rural Community Resources
- Info sheet in English: Rural Community Water & Wastewater System Loans (PDF)
- Info sheet in Spanish: Prestamos de Agua y Aguas Residuales (PDF)
- Loan Application: Rural Community Water & Wastewater (PDF)
- Spanish Loan Application: Solicitud de Prestamo Para Proyectos de Agua/Aguas Residulas (PDF)
- Technical assistance is available for:
- Assessments for CDBG Applications
- USDA Facility Financing: Technical assistance cost may be substantially or completely subsidized by CU's funding from USDA.
- Assessment Info sheet in English: Private Well Owner Assessment Program (PDF)
- Assessment Info sheet in Spanish: Evaluacion de Pozos de Agua en el Hogar (PDF)
- Septic System and Water Well Financing Info sheet in English: Household Septic System and Water Well (PDF)
- Septic System and Water Well Financing Info sheet in Spanish: Prestamos para Sistemas Septicos Domesticos y Pozos de Agua (PDF)
- Septic System and Water Well Loan Application in English: Household Septic System and Water Well Loan Application (PDF)
- Septic System and Water Well Loan Application in Spanish: Aplicacion de Sistemas Septicos Domesticos y Pozos de Agua (PDF)
- Info sheet in English: CU Rural Community Facility Financing (PDF)
- Info sheet in Spanish: CU Prestamos Para Instalaciones Comunitarias (PDF)
- Download the Application: CU Rural Community Facility Financing (PDF)
- Download the Application in Spanish: CU Solicitud De Prestamo Para Instalaciones Comunitarias (PDF)
- Technical assistance is available for:
- Assessments for CDBG Applications
- USDA Facility Financing: Technical assistance cost may be substantially or completely subsidized by CU's funding from USDA.
Eligibility includes local government, nonprofit corporations, and Indian tribes on Federal and State reservations and other Federally-recognized Indian tribes that,
- Serve a significant number of low-income customers;
- The population of the service area cannot exceed 10,000;
- The loan amount cannot exceed $200,000 or 75% of the total cost of a project. The total amount outstanding for all loans to one entity shall not exceed $200,000;
- Term cannot exceed 10 years;
- Loan recipient must meet test for credit;
- Loan recipient must have legal authority to own, construct, operate, and maintain the facility, and for giving security for and repaying the proposed loan;
- Have the cash flow for debt service or have permanent takeout financing; and,
- Are willing to accept no-cost technical assistance if needed
Nuestra Casa
Small dollar loans to people in the Colonias for home improvement projects
- Info sheet in English: Nuestra Casa Home Improvement Loans (PDF)
- Info sheet in Spanish: Préstamos para Mejoras en el Hogar de Nuestra Casa (PDF)
- Download the Application: Home Improvement Loan Application (PDF)
- Download the Application in Spanish: Solicitud De Prestamo para Mejoras del Hogar (PDF)
Lending Team
Bryn Bagwell
Debra Williams
Jane Coffin
Michael Rivera
Glenda Johnson
Chris Ranniger
Chris Tillman
Amber McClellan