Why Our Work Is
So Important
86% of Nebraska and Southwest Iowa businesses are small or micro-businesses.
Micro-businesses include self-employed, start-up, home-based, or other small businesses. They play a crucial role in powering our local, state, and national economies.
Small Businesses Supported
Jobs Created
Million Loaned Successfully
Years Expereince
Direct Lending
Loans from $1,000 to $150,000 provided directly to businesses based on business capacity, ability to repay and growth plans.
GAP Financing
Loans in collaboration with a lead bank. NEF provides the crucial “gap” financing to ensure good deals are great by augmenting the bank’s ability to fund.
Invoice Financing
Small-dollar financing to small and emerging business based on existing contract, provided in collaboration with the Greater Omaha Chamber’s Reach Initiative.
SSBCI
Intermediary Lending
NEF provides loans to mission-focused Micro Development Organizations reaching targeted diverse and under served entrepreneurs.
Your Access to Capital
NEF provides flexible lending products to businesses and programs across Nebraska and Southwest Iowa to support your capital needs and growth plans.
NEF has received an increasing number of inquiries from Iowa entrepreneurs and bankers with requests for loans in this area. With few other non-traditional lending options available for small businesses, NEF expanded services into Iowa in FY2021, focusing on the neighboring community of Council Bluffs and the Western portion of the state.
Creating Jobs
- 31% of private-sector employment (41.3 Million jobs impacted)
- 26 million direct jobs and the ripple effect of 1.9 Million indirect jobs and 13.4 Million induced jobs.
Generating Income & Tax Contribution
- Small businesses in low-income communities generate $1.87 trillion in annual revenue.
Stabilizing the economy
- 47% of Small Businesses are located in low-income communities
- Sources of social and cultural capital
- Purchase and hire locally
- Build assets and create wealth
- More than 2.2 Million small businesses in low-income communities seek credit each year.
Offerings
Business Acceleration Training
For existing businesses that want to boost their top lines. During this multi-session program, you will learn how to accelerate sales, profit, and community wealth – and hone your mission and vision – through SWOT analysis and exercises in pricing, marketing, sales, customer service, and forecasting.
Essentials of Entrepreneurship
A multi-session exploration of basic business skills (planning, organization, and financial management) for the pre-startup all the way to the new entrepreneur.
QuickBooks and Record-Keeping
Designed to equip owners with tools you need to run your business, offered as a one-day seminar-style program or a more in-depth two-day professional-level training. QuickBooks account set-up is covered in both formats. Two-day training also focuses on producing financial statements and managing receivables and payroll.
Business Planning
A three-session series that builds to the writing of an actual, individualized business plan that you can take with you and implement.
Financial Management
A five-part series, developed in conjunction with a local accounting firm, that will help you better understand your financial records and make well-informed business decisions leading to greater potential profit and success. Session topics include: Pricing, Breakeven Analysis, and Growing out of a Crisis.
Credit as an Asset
Credit is an essential building block for asset building. This multi-session program is designed to help you better understand your credit, credit score, and how to manage your credit as an asset while building awareness of predatory lending practices and how to avoid them.
- Additional training opportunities will be announced as community needs arise.
- NEF also offers one-to-one training and mentoring, covering:
- Cash flow analysis
- Market Planning
- Business planning
- Business resumption
- Financial analysis
- General small business management
In addition to the programs we offer, Nebraska Enterprise Fund can connect your business to both local and statewide program partners, businesses, and banks with expertise in micro and small business development.
Credit Building
This program is designed to assist clients in building credit as an asset, and learning how to change the status of their credit score through certified credit counseling at no charge.
Training
Nebraska Enterprise Fund provides small business training in a wide variety of topics to help your business Start-up, Grow, and Prosper. These topics can be found on the Events tab or by clicking on the link below.
Technical Assistance
Technical Assistance (TA) – NEF meets with clients on a one-on-one basis to provide mentoring based on the individualized need of the business. To request further information, contact us by clicking the link below.
“What I’ve learned has made me a better business owner and negotiator. I realize education is the key. I recommend NEF’s BATMF (Business Acumen Training, Mentoring, and Finance program) to all entrepreneurs, business owners, and others who want to learn how to be successful.”
“I started the class with the notion of here’s another workshop that is not going to change anything, oh my, but was I surprised. After the 2nd class, I was convinced that this was different education on credit. Ms. BC in counseling laid out and shared many stories that were relevant to my situation. My score was 580 and has inched up to 690, I am still in counseling and learn new information each month. Thanks, NEF.”
“I credit all the success to NEF and my mentor consistently teaching and mentoring me. Always encouraging me that following the plan, will pay-off. It has, thank you Nebraska Enterprise Fund.”