Iowa Microfinance Demonstration Initiative: Report to the Northwest Area Foundation

This report summarizes the impact of a 3 year demonstration project that organized a statewide microlending intermediary to provide loans and technical assistance for gap financing  targeted to small business entrepreneurs with workable business plans who had been denied access to credit by conventional lenders.  The goal is to provide an alternative source of credit that along with regular technical assistance would increase the odds for business success and graduation back to conventional credit sources within 4-6 years.