Capital Region Advancement Fund
The Capital Region Advancement Fund was created to provide low-interest loans to help area businesses who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses that demonstrate negative COVID-related impact such as reduction of revenues, employee layoffs, change in capital expenditures or disruption to expansion/growth plans are encouraged to apply. Funding can be used to retain employees, help cover expenses, support operations and make necessary adjustments toward a sustainable future.
This fund is not an income replacement program or a grant program.
The fund is available to for-profit businesses located in Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties. Please see below for eligibility requirements.
Click here to read about business owners who utilized the Capital Region Advancement Fund to keep their business alive during the pandemic.
Program Highlights
- Loan amounts of $25,000 – $500,000
- Terms ranging from 2-10 years (depending on use of proceeds)
- Interest rate fixed at 1.5%
- Application fees waived
- Low to no closing fees
- Principal payments deferred for first 6 months
- No prepayment penalties
- No bank involvement required
- Limited collateral requirements for requests under $50,000
Eligibility
- Must be in business at least 6 months prior to March 11, 2020
- Must be a For-Profit business located in one of the six counties covered by the fund (Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady)
- Applicant cannot have any bankruptcies or foreclosures over the past 3 years
- All Owners/Guarantors should demonstrate satisfactory personal credit history (i.e. no outstanding tax liens or warrants, no personal accounts currently placed in collection, etc.)
- Applicant can demonstrate COVID-related hardship through: closing of business operations or reduction of revenues or employee layoffs or change in capital expenditures or disruption to expansion/growth plans
- Applicant should be able to demonstrate sufficient historical cash flow prior to 2020. Applicant must show the ability to repay all borrowed funds
- Recipients of SBA EIDL or PPP encouraged to apply if more capital is needed
- Funds will help in the retention and/or creation of existing jobs (including self-employed individuals)
- PLEASE NOTE: All requests above $50,000 must be secured by sufficient collateral
- Funds cannot go toward investment income based businesses
- Funds cannot be used for refinance or consolidation of existing debt
- Business must have generated some income between March and December 2020
- Membership in a local, county or regional chamber is not a requirement
To learn more about the Capital Region Advancement Fund and how to apply, please fill out the form below and a member of our staff will contact you. If you have questions, please email [email protected]. Please note, this form is not an application.
If you do not receive a confirmation email after completing the form, please contact [email protected].
