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Our Greensboro, NC branch is temporarily closed today (6/5) due to power outage. Please contact Member Services at (800) 966-7353 for assistance.

Loans for Rural North Carolina


Partnerships to Improve Economic Opportunity

Self-Help collaborates closely with two specialty loan funds to stimulate economic development, create jobs, and promote the social welfare of distressed and rural communities across the state.

speciality loan funds
Self-help borrower Eastern Carolina Organics is a farmer-owned distributor of organic produce.

Current Specialty Loan Programs

Golden LEAF Small Business Assistance Fund

Thanks to support from the Golden LEAF Foundation, Self-Help offers the Golden LEAF Small Business Assistance Fund, which aims to create jobs by helping businesses expand.

  • Priority industries include health care, construction, green industries, agriculture and manufacturing
  • Emphasis on economically-distressed and rural communities in North Carolina (Tier 1, Tier 2 and formerly tobacco-dependent Tier 3 counties)
  • Minority and women business owners strongly encouraged to apply
  • Can be combined with SBA or USDA guarantees

Small Business Assistance Fund

Self-Help partners with the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center to create the Small Business Assistance Fund, designed to promote economic development in North Carolina.

  • Available to businesses across North Carolina
  • Minority and women business owners are strongly encouraged to apply
  • Can be combined with SBA and USDA guarantees
  • For-profit businesses only