Additional Services

US Department of Agriculture Business and Industry Loans

What is the USDA B&I Loan Program?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Business and Industry (B&I) Loan Program is designed to help improve the economies in rural areas across the United States. The program provides affordable financing to a variety of eligible businesses in rural communities throughout the U.S. Access to the funding you need to accomplish goals such as purchasing your own building, buying better equipment, or having access to funds for expanding your operations. Our expert team of USDA lenders will help you understand how to access and apply for the USDA B&I loan program.

Real Estate Financing

Buy an existing business, add square footage, construct an owner user building or purchase real estate to occupy.

Energy Efficiency Projects

Implement renewable energy systems, make energy efficiency upgrades or install new, energy-efficient equipment.

Equipment Financing

Get the equipment you need to replace older assets or expand your operations with financing at reasonable rates.

Inventory Financing

Secure financing to purchase the inventory you need to meet near-term and longer-term demand.

Working Capital

Obtain a term loan to infuse permanent working capital into your business to improve cash flow.

The USDA can help you operate, expand and grow your business. USDA business loans are available for a wide variety of needs, from working capital to the purchase of existing businesses, commercial real estate, equipment, inventory and more. Loans are also available for debt refinancing to improve cash flow and create or save jobs. With reasonable terms and competitive interest rates, there is a USDA loan for your small business at every stage of growth. expand a business,

US Department of Agriculture Business and Industry Loans

What does this program do?

The Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program provides financial support to loan applicants who want to start or expand middle of the food supply chain activities such as aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesale, or distribution of food. The program’s goal is to increase capacity and help create a more resilient, diverse, and secure U.S. food supply chain.

Who can apply for this program?

For-profit or nonprofit businesses
Cooperatives
Federally-recognized Tribes
Public bodies
Food supply chain entrepreneurs

Are there geographic eligibility restrictions?

No: projects can be in rural or urban areas

Who can apply for this program?

Examples of fund uses by food supply chain businesses include:

Business conversion, enlargement, repair, modernization, or development
The purchase and development of land, buildings, and associated infrastructure for commercial or industrial purposes
Building or equipping facilities for lease to public or private enterprises engaged in commercial or industrial operations
The purchase and installation of machinery and equipment, including manufacturing and Information Technology (IT) systems
Working capital

US Department of Treasury

Community Development Financial Institution Program

Loan Programs

Our CDFI lending partner achieves economic impact for Texas businesses and citizens with three primary loan products:

Financing to growth-oriented businesses located in distressed and
low/moderate-income communities or that provide jobs for low/moderate-income persons. We provide loans for expansion, equipment, business acquisition, working capital, and owner-occupied real estate.
Financing to for-profit and nonprofit developers of affordable single- or multi-family housing. We provide loans for predevelopment activities, land acquisition, lot inventory and/or development, and interim construction of quality housing.
Financing for community facilities with a mission of serving social and
economic needs of their communities.

Our CDFI lending partner may fund "stand-alone" loans up to $300,000, and up to $800,000 in tandem with other lenders and/or other economic development lenders. We can provide financing up to $2,000,000 for loans collateralized by real estate in a first lien. We focus on emerging businesses that have sound management, the potential for growth, a clear strategy for being profitable, and that demonstrate an ability to repay the loan.

New Markets Tax Credits

The New Markets Tax Credit Program (NMTC Program) was established by Congress in 2000 to spur new or increased investments into operating businesses and real estate projects located in low-income communities. The NMTC Program attracts investment capital to low-income communities by permitting individual and corporate investors to receive a tax credit against their federal income tax return in exchange for making equity investments in specialized financial institutions called Community Development Entities (CDEs). The credit totals 39 percent of the original investment amount and is claimed over a period of seven years (five percent for each of the first three years, and six percent for each of the remaining four years). The investment in the CDE cannot be redeemed before the end of the seven-year period. To spur organic growth within the organization, and to supply additional financing products to its market, our CDFI lending partner has received nine rounds of NMTC. This includes: $25 million in 2008 and 2009, $35 million in 2010, $50 million in 2011, $35 million in2012, $43 million in 2013, $75 million for calendar year (CY) 2015-2016, $35 million in 2018, $45million in 2019, and $65 million in 2020. Our CDFI lending partner deploys its NMTC into compliant projects throughout the State of Texas. Projects may be real estate or non-real estate based.

EXIM Bank

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is an independent federal government agency that supports American jobs by facilitating the export of U.S. goods and services. In the last decade, EXIM has supported more than 1.7 million jobs in all 50 states.

With more than 110 other export credit agencies around the world trying to win jobs for their own countries, EXIM helps level the playing field for American businesses. “Made in the USA” is still the best brand in the world, and the agency ensures that U.S. companies never lose a sale because of attractive financing from foreign governments. When the private sector is unable or unwilling to provide export financing, EXIM fills the gap through its loan, guarantee, and insurance products. Private-sector lenders are simultaneously EXIM’s partners.

EXIM also contributes to economic growth by supporting thousands of small and medium- sized businesses across the country. Small businesses are EXIM’s core customers, with about 90 percent of the agency’s transactions directly supporting small businesses. No transaction is too large or too small.

As the global middle class expands and technology makes the world more interconnected, opportunities have never been greater for American businesses to compete worldwide. With EXIM support, U.S. companies have the confidence to enter new markets and increase sales in existing ones.

Protects Against Nonpayment

Accounts receivable are often a large, uninsured asset on a company’s balance sheet. Export credit insurance allows businesses to safeguard their foreign receivables by covering up to 95 percent of the invoice value.

Allows Credit to be Extended

Foreign buyers prefer open account credit terms rather than harm their cash flow by paying in advance. EXIM’s insurance is a sales tool that empowers U.S. companies to negotiate advantageous credit terms for qualified foreign buyers up front. Offering credit can be the competitive edge that wins deals.

Provides Access to Funds

EXIM’s insurance enhances cash flow by transforming foreign accounts receivable into receivables that are insured by the U.S. government. With this insurance in place, lenders are more likely to advance U.S. companies a loan against this collateral.

Working Capital

For many U.S. companies, a lack of access to financing can stand in the way of global growth. Commercial lenders do not always have the capacity or willingness to provide loans to businesses that export to challenging markets or to support riskier transactions. EXIM works with commercial lenders to help businesses secure financing for international sales through its working capital loan guarantee. With EXIM support, small businesses can turn their inventory and foreign accounts receivable into eligible collateral for these loans. EXIM provides a 90 percent guarantee to pre-approved lenders, giving them the incentive and cover needed to back a loan. EXIM does not replace private lenders. The EXIM guarantee backs up the loans, giving lenders the confidence to provide American businesses with the cash needed to produce “Made in the USA” exports.

U.S. companies may use their line of credit to:

Pay for materials, equipment, supplies, labor, and other inputs to fulfill export orders.
Post standby letters of credit to serve as bid bonds, performance bonds, or payment guarantees.
Purchase finished U.S.-made products for export.

Financing for Foreign Buyers

Foreign buyers sometimes require a medium- or long-term financing package to purchase U.S. goods and services. In the cases where private-sector financing is not available, EXIM fills the gap by securing competitive financing for credit worthy international buyers. EXIM can guarantee or insure commercial loans, providing longer- term financing for U.S. export sales. The buyers can be sovereign or sub-sovereign governments, or they can be public or private-sector entities. EXIM loan and loan guarantee repayment terms can be up to 18 years.

Project and Structured Financing

EXIM offers flexible options for project and structured financing for foreign buyers. EXIM's financing covers a broad cross section of industries, including:

Thermal and
renewable energy
Mining
Technology
Satellites
Telecommunications
Transportation
Infrastructure

EXIM primarily guarantees loans made by commercial lenders to support these exports, but also provides direct loans when needed. Repayment terms are usually between 10 and 18 years (not including construction),
depending on the project characteristics.

Conventional Non-Governmental Enhanced Loans

Impower Loan Program

Up to 95% LTV owner-user commercial real estate - Non-SBA:

Up to 95% LTV
Must be in an NMTC area or minority or woman-owned business
Most property types
Min 1.0 Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) for the last tax return fiscal year and interim period
5 and 10-year fixed rates
NON-SBA commercial real estate loan