Background Statement
Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF) is a non-profit CDFI small business lender committed to helping entrepreneurs start and grow their business. We help small businesses that don’t meet traditional financing guidelines for various reasons including the business is a startup, limited collateral, or lower credit scores. CEF provides flexible, low-barrier loans to be used for working capital, equipment, inventory, business purchase, property improvements, and more. Loans range from $10K to $1M and include SBA microloans & 7(a) Community Advantage loans. And it is not just about the loan for CEF. We also provide FREE business coaching to our borrowers through our Business Navigation Services. Our navigators help with areas such as business planning, marketing & sales, and accounting throughout the life of the loan. CEF has been dedicated to building businesses, driving community development, and creating jobs for over 45 years.
CEF is headquartered in Denver with satellite offices in Northern and Southern CO to support small businesses for the entire state of Colorado. Since 1976, we disbursed over $315M in capital to 8400+ small businesses that have created or retained over 32,000+ jobs. We have provided over 60,000 hours of business navigation services to our borrowers.
As a certified CDFI, CEF provides 90% of capital and coaching programs to underserved communities. Our impact is evident by our lending demographics as 65% low to moderate-income, 48% women-owned, 30% minority-owned, 50% start-ups, and 14% veteran-owned businesses.