Helping Rainier Valley businesses succeed

The Rainier Valley Community Development Fund was created to assist Rainier Valley businesses and entrepreneurs. Since 2006, we've been offering loans with flexible terms and at affordable interest rates to help businesses overcome the disruption caused by the building of the light rail system. The program has been so successful that we plan to continue making loans to Rainier Valley businesses, using money from private as well as public funds.

Here's what we offer to help local businesses:

Business expansion and incentive loans

Incentive loans are designed to help existing companies stabilize, strengthen, or grow their business. Loans are also available for new businesses or businesses new to the community that will provide new services and/or jobs for Rainier Valley residents.

People use business incentive loans for:

  • working capital
  • equipment purchases
  • refinancing existing debt
  • improving, expanding, or purchasing a place of business

The incentive loans average $200,000 for a term of 5 years, but range from $50,000 to more than $500,000.

Business stimulus loans

Stimulus loans help smaller or newer businesses meet credit needs quickly. They include:

  • Business Express Loans (up to $20,000). Awarded based on the strength of the business rather than the owner's credit or collateral.
  • Emerging Entrepreneur Loans (up to $10,000). Unsecured personal loans to help an entrepreneur with a viable business plan launch, expand, or update a businesses.
  • Business Stabilization Loans (up to $25,000). For businesses that could benefit from debt restructuring and/or access to working capital.
  • Business District Impact Loans (up to $50,000). For businesses willing to move to an area of the Rainier Valley where they will spur neighborhood vitality and other business development.

How do businesses get a loan?

Our criteria are not the same as those at traditional lending agencies. We look at factors including character, business capacity, and projected cash flow, as well as the impact a business will have on the Rainier Valley community. The first step is to meet with the business loan officer to discuss your credit needs.

Real estate development loans

We also offer loans for real estate development projects for nonprofit and for-profit agencies.