CCR program provides over $400,000 in small business lending

On September 25, Gov. Bill Ritter joined CHFA and the Colorado Enterprise Fund to announce the first 23 businesses to benefit from the renewed Colorado Credit Reserve program. The program is leveraging more than $400,000 in small business lending and supporting 161 new and existing jobs across the state.

"One of the best things we can do to re-energize Colorado's economy is to give small businesses the tools they need to succeed," Gov. Bill Ritter said. "These first 23 loans are just the beginning for the Colorado Credit Reserve program. Ultimately, the program will leverage nearly $50 million in capital for hundreds of small businesses so they can grow and create new jobs throughout Colorado."

The businesses span industries such as manufacturing, service, retail, restaurant, and wholesale foods as well as geographic regions such as Pueblo, Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs, Estes Park, Boulder, Frederick, and Trinidad. Seventeen of the initial 23 are minority- or women-owned businesses. The 23 businesses are:

• Abeyta and Son Trucking, Pueblo (Service/Trucking)
• ACCU-Door, LLC, Highlands Ranch (Service/Commercial Door)
• Bob's Processing, Trinidad (Service/Meat Cutting)
• Boondock Trails, Denver (Service/Mountain Trails)
• Centerline Welding, Evergreen (Service/Welding)
• Colorado K-9 Detection, Aurora (Service/Bug Detection)
• Desert Ceramics, Aurora (Retail/Ceramics)
• Diamond/Co Enterprises, Littleton (Manufacturing/Beauty Products)
• Dirt Doctor Enterprises, Colorado Springs (Service/Cleaning)
• Emenheiser Design, Golden (Manufacturer/Inventor)
• The Finishing Touch, Longmont (Service/Janitorial)
• Grand View Landscapes, Aurora (Service/Landscaping)
• Hudson Studio, Frederick (Service/Arts)
• Iron Forge, Inc., Englewood (Retail/Trailer Service)
• Local Roots, Estes Park (Retail/Grocer)
• The Lundi Group, Denver (Manufacturer/Women's Apparel)
• Maintenance Done Right, Colorado Springs (Service/Maintenance)
• Mountain Awesome Foods, Castle Rock (Wholesale Foods)
• P.E.A.C.E. Productions, Colorado Springs (Retail/Service)
• Pure Hair Studio, Boulder (Service/Beauty Salon)
• Shorty's Soul Food, Denver (Restaurant)
• Terry's Art, Colorado Springs (Retail/Service/Art/Framing)

"I am thrilled that Colorado's small businesses are getting help during this difficult time," Rep. Gagliardi said. "The Colorado Credit Reserve program shows that even in this difficult economy, we believe our small businesses are competitive and have what it takes to thrive."

In addition to the Colorado Enterprise Fund, Wells Fargo, Premier Bank, Timberline Bank, and the Upper Arkansas Area Development Corporation have signed on to make loans through the program. Ceyl Prinster, president and CEO of Colorado Enterprise Fund, said, "This program will enable us to reach a broader segment of business that need access to capital to start or grow. Many of these are solid businesses that can create jobs, but their progress has been constrained by the credit crunch."

For more information about how to participate in the Colorado Credit Reserve program, contact CHFA's Denver office at 1.800.877.2432, CHFA's Western Slope office at 800.877.8450, or visit the CCR website at www.chfainfo.com/business/ccr/ccr.icm.