$472,500 Award to Help Support Microenterprise Work
LINCOLN, NEB. - Governor Dave Heineman has awarded $472,500 in state funds to 10 microenterprise programs. These programs provide lending, pre- and post-loan technical assistance, and training to self-employed businesses (five or fewer employees) in urban and rural areas of Nebraska. The funding is made possible through the Nebraska Microenterprise Development Act, which was enacted by the State Legislature in 1997.
The Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) has contracted with the Nebraska Microenterprise Partnership Fund (NMPF), a private nonprofit corporation, to administer the Microenterprise Development Act funds. In addition to this public funding the Nebraska Microenterprise Partnership Fund will make loan capital available to programs for use in making loans to micro businesses. NMPF’s loan funds come from a variety of sources, including US Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, First National Nebraska CDC, and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund of the U.S. Treasury.
Micro program fund recipients will match the 472,500 with more than $1.8 million of public and private funds (not including other state funds). Because of this two-tiered matching, the state’s investment is multiplied several times.
“This public-private partnership is working very well," said Gov. Heineman. "Entrepreneurship is a major focus of Nebraska’s economic development work and supporting these services makes it possible for entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses across the state."
The ten award recipients and contacts are:
- Catholic Charities/Juan Diego Center. Karen Mavropolous 402-731-5413
- Center for Rural Affairs REAP. Jeff Reynolds 402-656-3091
- Community Development Resources. Rick Wallace 402-436-2386
- GROW Nebraska. Janell Anderson Ehrke 888-476-9632
- Lincoln Action Program. Sherrie Pruitt 402-471-4515
- Nebraska EDGE-Center for Applied Rural Innovation. Marilyn Schlake 800-328-2851
- New Community Development Corporation. Terrie Jackson Miller 402-451-2939
- Northeast Economic Development, Inc. Jeff Christensen 402-649-7223
- Voc. Rehab. Equity Assist. Program. Jim Coyle 402-471-0900
- West Central Nebraska Development District. Dave Jibben 308-284-6077
Businesses in need of loans, training and/or technical assistance are encouraged to contact these programs.
For more information about the work of NMPF, contact Rose Jaspersen at 402-685-5500, or email: rosej@nebbiz.org
