The Innovate Onwards Fund provides flexible working capital up to $500,000 to existing and new businesses across rural Colorado to build back our rural economies. The Innovate Onwards Fund is supported by ZOMA Foundation, the CLIMBER Fund and the Colorado Startup Loan Fund.

ZOMA Foundation and CLIMBER Loan Fund

The Innovate Onwards Fund is designed to support our rural businesses as they enter the recovery and rebuild stage of the pandemic. Each business has been affected differently by COVID, and the wealth of needs that exist to rebuild, recover and grow are broad. Some businesses have been left with little working capital to purchase inventory, invest in health and safety upgrades, or shift their business models in this new environment. Others have found new demands for their services and have outgrown their capacity. Whatever your needs, we are here to help!

• Level I – Loans up to $150,000: Start-Ups or Small Businesses

• • Eligible businesses: Start-Ups (less than two years old), Small Businesses in rural Colorado
  • Loan size: $10,000-$150,000
  • Interest rate: 6.5%
  • Length of loan: 7 years
  • Use of capital: Working capital and operating needs
  • Loan payments: Deferred for first 3 months

• Level II – Loans of $100,000-$500,000: Existing businesses with more than one employee

• • Eligible businesses: Existing businesses (no start-ups) with 1-99 employees (including PT/contract workers) who were profitable for one year in 2020 or 2021 in rural Colorado
  • Loan size: $100,000-$500,000
  • Interest rate: 3.9%
  • Length of loan: 10 years
  • Use of capital: Working capital
  • Loan payments: Deferred for first 3 months

Colorado Startup Loan Fund

Have you been thinking about starting, expanding or restructuring a business? The Colorado Startup Loan Fund is here to help. We’ve partnered with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade to launch the Colorado Startup Loan Fund. This new program makes it easier for small business owners and entrepreneurs to access financing to start and grow your business. If you’ve had trouble securing a loan, need a smaller-than-average loan to get up and running, or haven’t borrowed money before, the Colorado Startup Loan Fund may be for you.

• Loans up to $150,000: Start-Ups or Small Businesses

• • Eligible businesses: Start-Ups (less than two years old), Small Businesses in rural Colorado
  • Loan size: $10,000-$150,000
  • Interest rate: 6.5%
  • Length of loan: 7 years
  • Use of capital: Working capital and operating needs
  • Loan payments: Deferred for first 3 months