“By participating in the workshops and utilizing their resources, my business saw an increase of 10% revenue the first five months I started working with NEF. This is a lot for a business that had only seen an increase in revenue of 2% in the previous four years!”
Nebraska Enterprise Fund
Investing in the Underserved Small and Micro Business Owner.
Launching a small or micro business takes courage. It also takes capital and the insights that come from expert training and mentoring.
That’s where we come in – an ally dedicated to supporting you and your vision of success; a champion eager to partner for what’s possible.
We Are Nebraska Enterprise Fund. | A statewide microenterprise intermediary and Certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) providing business development services and financing to micro and small businesses across Nebraska.
Vision | The Nebraska Enterprise fund envisions a vibrant small business eco-system where every small and micro business has the opportunity to start, grow and prosper.
Mission | The Nebraska Enterprise Fund supports underserved communities by providing micro and small businesses with access to training, technical assistance and capital.
Who We Serve | NEF serves a target market of traditionally disadvantaged small businesses, including those owned by people of color, low-income people, women and veterans.
Supporting Financial Empowerment and Alleviating Poverty.
Since 1984
With multiple microprograms developing across Nebraska in the early 1990s, the state needed an organization to assist in procuring grant and loan funds to meet long-term operational and lending needs. Nebraska Enterprise Fund (NEF) launched in 1994.
A Focus on Innovation
1996
NEF begins making loans to business relending programs a year after raising its first loan capital.
1997
Awarded 501c3 non-profit status.
1998
Certified as a Community Development Financial Institution by the CDFI Fund.
2003
Launch of a new NEF website to educate businesses and connect them with micro program services.
2010
NEF debuts a new and improved data collection system, upgrading the system it unveiled seven years earlier.
NEF makes its first Direct Loan and CD Guarantee.
2013
Jim Reiff succeeds Rose Jasperson as NEF Executive Director, leveraging 20+ years of micro/small business development experience to increase NEF’s outreach and impact.
2019
NEF celebrates its 25th anniversary of serving Nebraska entrepreneurs. In its first quarter-century, NEF provided $XX million in capital and support to more than XX small businesses in Nebraska and the surrounding region.
Over the years, NEF has continued to innovate and develop new products and systems for the field, including:
- Microenterprise Information Referral System (MIRS) | linking microprograms with banks to serve unbankable customers; providing support for NEF’s Business Resource Directory.
- Tax Preparation/Literacy Documents prepared with program partners | Helping businesses enter the formal economy by paying taxes.
- New loan products | Filling gaps where businesses may not have access to capital.
[The Next Step | Expansion into Iowa]
NEF has maintained a strong presence in Omaha, Nebraska, serving a high percentage of low-income and immigrant and Hispanic entrepreneurs in the community. Just four miles to the east of Omaha is neighboring Council Bluffs, Iowa, the county seat of Pottawatomie County with a population of close to 100,000.
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 will expand services into Iowa in FY2021, focusing on the neighboring community of Council Bluffs and the Western portion of the state.
Your Goals Are Our Goals Too.
The Team at NEF
Jim Reiff
CEO/President
Executive Director since 2013, Jim Reiff finds incredible reward in his role with Nebraska Enterprise Fund, setting the strategy and developing funding sources that ultimately connect NEF clients – hard-working small business owners – with capital, training, and mentoring.
Jane Olson
Program Manager
With Nebraska Enterprise Fund since 2005, Jane Olson plays an integral role in helping NEF achieve our mission and serve our clients. In her role as Program Manager, Jane oversees the coordination and administration of the programs that connect our small and micro business owners to the capital, training, and mentoring so essential to ensuring the viability of their operations.
Michelle Johnson
Business Analyst + Underwriting Specialist
Michelle Johnson, NEF’s Business Analyst + Underwriting Specialist, began her journey in finance more than 20 years ago. She joined the NEF team in 2020, putting her extensive finance and risk background to work for micro and small businesses working to succeed in traditionally under-served communities.
Jamel Hamilton
Deputy Director of Lending
Jamel Hamilton has been with Nebraska Enterprise Fund since 2019. As the Deputy Director of Lending, he manages the Business Mentor/Loan Officers as well as the lending pipeline. Jamel has prior experience in loan processing, collections, and customer service.
Alli Keogh
Impact Reporting Assistant
Our Loan Officers + Business Mentors Team
NEF’s entire team of experienced Loan Officers + Business Mentors plays a crucial role in helping us serve our mission: To support underserved communities by providing micro and small businesses with access to capital, training and mentoring.
Our Loan Officers + Business Mentors work closely with owners and entrepreneurs to help them securing gap and direct financing. They also cultivate vital relationships with financial institutions, present workshops on various business management and financing topics, and provide real-world mentoring and technical assistance.
Raquel Romero
Loan Officer + Business Mentor
Stephanie Berry
Loan Processor
Kristine Plunkett
Loan Officer + Business Mentor
Delia Jangula-Castro
Bi-Lingual Business Loan Officer + Mentor
Tyron Price
Loan Officer + Business Mentor
NEF Board of Directors
The Nebraska Enterprise Fund in governed by a diverse, volunteer Board of Directors with guidance from its Advisory Committee
Joseph Hodges
Board Chairperson
Drew Williams
Board Vice Chairperson
David Wise
Secretary/Treasurer
Kendall Scheer
Boardmember
Nancy Williams
Boardmember
Bobbi Pettit
Boardmember
Michael Storey
Boardmember
Eddie Sitzman
Boardmember
Ramone Calzada
Boardmember
Shannon Filing
Boardmember
Funders
| First National Bank Omaha | Omaha Community Foundtion |
| U.S. Bank | Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) |
| CIT (formerly Mutual of Omaha) | SBA |
| Wells Fargo | Nebraska Department of Economic Development |
| Great Western Bank | Iowa West Foundation |
| Bank of the West | Charles E. Lakin Foudation |
| USDA | Weitz Family Foundation |
| CDFI | Pay Pal |
| Sherwood Foundation | TS Community Foundation |
| Kiewit Foundation | William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation |