Golden LEAF Loan Program

The Golden LEAF Loan Program at Self-Help provides loans to help small businesses in economically-distressed, rural, and tobacco-dependent counties in North Carolina.

Eligible businesses

• Any sector that creates high quality jobs will be considered. Priority given to:

• Health Care:  Health centers, hospitals & clinics, group homes, physicians & dentists in private practice, and other providers seeking to create and retain jobs within the health industry.

• Construction Trades

• Green Industries:  Renewable energy applications, enterprises that install energy-efficiency technologies, commercial recycling operations, and other conservation-based businesses.  

• Agriculture: Includes businesses that employ alternative ways of producing, processing, and/or distributing agricultural commodities, and farms.

• Manufacturing:  Aerospace, biotechnology, and defense contracting, and other manufacturing.

Eligible uses include

• Start-up capital
  
• Working capital
  
• Equipment and inventory purchases
  
• Acquisition, construction, or renovation of facilities

Requirements for program

• Solid business plan with 2 years of cash flow projections.
• Experience/skill in your industry and in management of a business.
• For start-ups, at least 20% of loan amount in cash to put into the business.
• A clear explanation of how this loan will help your business grow or expand.
• Moderate to good credit
• Collateral in proportion to loan size

Businesses in these North Carolina Counties only are eligible for a Golden LEAF loan:

Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Camden, Carteret, Caswell, Catawba, Cherokee, Chowan, Clay, Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Davidson, Davie, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Gates, Graham, Granville, Greene, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Haywood, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Jackson, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, Martin, McDowell, Mitchell, Montgomery, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Person, Pitt, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Rowan, Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Tyrrell, Vance, Wake, Warren, Washington, Watauga, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin, and Yancey.

 

Minority and women business owners are strongly encouraged to apply. If your business is ineligible for the Golden LEAF Program, please contact your nearest Self-Help office for information on other loan programs.

 

Apply for a Loan:

• Download a loan application.

• Contact the nearest Self-Help location to speak with a Loan Officer about a Golden LEAF Program loan, or other loan programs.

 

Read the October 2009 press release announcing the Golden LEAF Loan Program.