The Center for Rural Affairs has a longstanding mission of establishing strong rural communities while engaging people in decisions that affect the quality of their lives.
Based out of Lyons, Nebraska, the Center for Rural Affairs offers resources available to Iowa farmers and small business owners. According to business development specialist Vicky Espinoza, the Center for Rural Affairs has several lending options. She says their underwriting process is more flexible than traditional lenders.
?Part of our commitment is strengthening rural communities through small, self-employed business development,? said Espinoza. ?We focus on four essential services including business financing. Our business development services include the business class and training, our one-on-one business coaching and networking. With the business financing services, currently the Center for Rural Affairs business loan specialists work with loans anywhere from $1,000 up to $250,000.?
Espinoza discusses their business training service.
?That includes our educational services to help entrepreneurs and small business owners start and grow a successful business,? said Espinoza. ?Whether it?s for a luncheon or a classroom workshop setting, our business development specialists are also here to offer business startup and management training year-round.?
Espinoza adds another service is their one-on-one business coaching for rural communities.
?This coaching is offered through our Center for Rural Affairs loan specialists, our business development specialists such as myself, and a network of expert contractors,? said Espinoza. ?Business coaching includes startup planning, bookkeeping, accessing capital business acquisition, just to name a few.?
The Center for Rural Affairs stands up for the small family farmer or rancher, new business owner, and rural communities. For more than 40 years, they have been a leading force engaging people to build a better rural future.
Learn more at cfra.org.
