STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES

The Abilities Fund
Centerville Office
410 N 18th St
Centerville, IA 52544-1823
Telephone: 641-856-2173
Toll Free: 888-222-8943
Fax: 641-856-3101

Iowa City Office
332 South Linn Street, Suite #17
Iowa City, IA 52240
Telephone: 319-338-2521
Toll Free: 866-720-3863
Fax: 319-338-2528
URL: http://www.abilitiesfund.org/

"This summer The Abilities Fund, together with a national lending partner, will launch a nationwide direct loan program for entrepreneurs with disabilities. In 45 states, loan guarantees will also be available to as a means to secure loans for entrepreneurs. Flexible terms and competitive interest rates for microloans ranging from $500 - $25,000 will be offered.

In support of new microlending services, The Abilities Fund will be expanding its online presence to include training and technical assistance. Soon, people with disabilities nationwide will have 24-hour access to features such as Feasibility First ©, business plan development, and financial planning for business startup -- all of which are resources designed to prepare entrepreneurs with disabilities for self-employment."

Belknap County Revolving Loan Fund
2 Airport Road, Southern New Hampshire University, Laconia Center, Gilford, NH 03249
Phone: (603) 524-3057
Fax: (603) 524-0314
E-mail: bcedc@lr.net
URL: http://www.bcedc.org/html/loanpro.html

"The Enterprise Loan Fund (ELF) is a flexible finance program designed to assist micro-enterprise businesses. Consideration will be given to existing, emerging or start-up businesses located in Belknap County, whether they are manufacturing, wholesale, agri-business, tourism, retail or service."

Department of Resources and Economic Development
State of New Hampshire, Office of Business and Industrial Development
172 Pembroke Road, P.O. Box 1856, Concord, NH 03302-1856
Phone: (603)271-2411
Fax: (603)271-2629
URL: http://www.dred.state.nh.us/

"The Office of Business and Industrial Development (OBID) works as an advocate for New Hampshire companies. The OBID is invovled with many distinct programs. Our New Markets work to assist companies in finding new areas to move their products/services towards. The Training Opportunities list organizations that assist with employee training and workforce development. Our Technology Resources give our high technology companies additional resources to continue their work and to network between each other. Our Financing Resources lists available financing programs available through other entities. The OBID does not provide direct financing, but can act as an advocate for businesses and assist them in located the proper program."

New Hampshire Community Loan Fund
7 Wall Street, Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 224-6669
Fax: (613) 225-7425
E-mail: info@nhclf.org
URL: http://www.nhclf.org/

"Provides technical assistance and micro-loans to low and moderate income people of Concord."

NH Small Business Development Center
State Director's Office & Administrative Offices
University of NH, The Whittemore School of Business
108 McConnell Hall, Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-2200
Fax: (603) 862-4876
E-mail: mary.collins@unh.edu
URL: http://www.nhsbdc.org/

"The New Hampshire Small Business Development Center offers free, one-on-one, confidential business counseling, low cost training programs, and access to information referral. Specialized services include environmental counseling, manufacturing assistance, international trade programs, and innovative economic development initiatives."

MicroCredit-NH
Phone: (800) 769-3482, extension 227
E-mail: cwhittemore@microcreditnh.org
URL: http://www.microcreditnh.org

"The purpose of MicroCredit-NH is to help New Hampshire’s smallest businesses grow by providing business training, loans, networking opportunities and other support. MicroCredit-NH’s target market is the state’s self-employed or microbusiness owners. A “microbusiness”, is defined as a business with five employees or less (including the owner), and less than $500,000 in annual gross sales."

Northern Community Investment Corporation
347 Portland Street, P.O. Box 904, St. Johnsbury,VT 05819
Phone: (802) 748-5101
Fax: (802) 748-1884
URL: http://www.ncic.org/

"NCIC serves the businesses and communities of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom [Essex, Orleans and Caledonia counties] and the North Country of New Hamsphire [Coos, Carroll and Grafton counties]."

Start a Business in New Hampshire
New Hampshire Business Resource Center
URL: http://www.nheconomy.com/startbiz.html

Women's Business Center, Inc.
150 Greenleaf Avenue, #8, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Phone: (603) 430-2892
Fax: (603) 430-3706
E-mail: info@womenbiz.org
URL: http://www.womenbiz.org

"The Women’s Business Center, a New Hampshire-based nonprofit, promotes women’s business ownership as a means to maximize personal potential and achieve economic independence. The WBC provides classes and courses to help women who are starting and growing their businesses. The WBC is physically located in Portsmouth but offers programs and services across the region of southeastern New Hampshire, northern Massachusetts and southern Maine.The WBC accomplishes its mission by providing: Educational Programming, Advocacy, Networking, Counseling, & Mentorship."

Women's Rural Entrepreneurial Network (WREN)
2011 Main Street, P.O.Box 331, Bethlehem, NH 03574
Phone: (603) 869-WREN (9736)
Fax: (603) 869-9738
E-mail: wren@wrencommunity.org
URL: http://www.wrencommunity.org

" WREN encourages women entrepreneurs through an exchange of resources, the development of community, the opportunity to gain new skills, and the achievement of economic independence."