Non-Traditional Financing and Loans
A number of non-traditional financing options for farm and food businesses exist. Here are a few that might provide opportunities for Oregon farmers:
Oregon has a Community Public Offering tool available to food and agriculture businesses to raise up to $250,000 by crowdsourcing small loans from Oregon residents.
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Harvest Capital – A Northwest agricultural real estate lender that can help finance the purchase of agricultural properties, farms, ranches, buildings and improvements, and consolidate existing debt.
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Craft 3 — Statewide lending and business assistance to entrepreneurs who don’t normally have access to financing, including for rural, agriculture and food businesses.
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Community Lending Works — Lending work includes small loans and technical assistance to small agricultural businesses
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Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) – IDAs are matched savings accounts available for lower income individuals and small business owners to assist with equipment purchases, working capital and more.
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Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloans — SBA provides short-term microloans of up to $50,000 to small businesses through intermediary lenders. Loans may be used for working capital, inventory, supplies, machinery and/or equipment.
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Equity Trust makes loans up to $150,000 that: assist in the permanent protection of land and/or buildings for agriculture; support the economic vitality of CSA farms; directly or indirectly enable land reform and promote alternative ownership models.
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Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME) offers microloans for minority owned small businesses
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Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO) offers loans of up to $50,000 for equipment and working capital for small businesses in parts of Oregon
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MercyCorps Northwest — Provides loans from $500 to $50,000 for small businesses in Oregon and Washington that may not qualify for traditional loans.
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Whole Foods Local Producer Loan Program — Whole Foods Market offers loans between $1,000 and $100,000 for small, local, independent producers to help them expand their businesses
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Prosper is an online community marketplace for peer-to-peer lending without a middleman. Prosper offers fixed rate, unsecured loans from $2,000 to $35,000 with terms of 3 or 5 years
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Funding Circle is an online marketplace where people lend to businesses
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A variety of online funding platforms exist for creative projects
(read more)
Slow Money is an investment movement inspired by the Slow Food movement.
(read more)
Accion — a nationwide nonprofit micro and small business lending network
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RSF Social Finance — Provides loans for food and agriculture businesses involved in sustainable agriculture and local food systems
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Pinnacle Business Financing — Loans for new and used farm equipment
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