Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens launches $5.7 million small business loan program

The Atlanta Recovery Loan Program is the first of four initiatives United Way of Greater Atlanta — in collaboration with Invest Atlanta — will roll out as a part of the Atlanta Open for Business Fund supported by Wells Fargo.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Wells Fargo announced Atlanta’s Open for Business Fund award earlier this year alongside Congresswoman Nikema Williams and United Way of Greater Atlanta.

The ARLP is a $5.7 million program offering low-cost loans to help small businesses grow ownership of tangible assets — a major challenge for diverse-owned small businesses — to help them build wealth and avoid displacement due to changing economic conditions.

“The Atlanta Recovery Loan program is timely funding for our small businesses’ continued need for financial relief and access to capital for growth,” Dickens said. “Without adequate financing to survive disruptions like the pandemic, most small businesses struggle to maintain their companies, let alone attain assets to grow them. This program will serve as yet another invaluable asset to help Atlantans build a resilient foundation for their companies.”

The Atlanta Open for Business Fund is made possible through a $20 million donation from Wells Fargo to help Atlanta small business owners own more of their businesses’ assets, including property and equipment, and to enable physical upgrades to their facilities. UWGA and Invest Atlanta will distribute the Atlanta Open for Business Fund as a mix of grants and loan programs with a focus on diverse-owned businesses.

The maximum ARLP direct loan amount is $25,000 — $100,000 at an interest rate not to exceed 3 percent repaid monthly over a term not to exceed seven years, providing businesses access to lower-cost, fixed-rate capital in a market where interest rates are rising.

Eligible businesses include existing businesses with less than 500 employees, partnerships or sole proprietorships, and non-profits with a focus on diverse-led or supporting diverse communities. Businesses in all commercial areas in the city of Atlanta, including those operating on City of Atlanta-owned property are eligible.

“The Atlanta Recovery Loan program will help advance a more equitable recovery from the pandemic by lifting the barriers of race and zip code that can impede many entrepreneurs from converting increased income into wealth,” President and CEO of United Way of Greater Atlanta Milton Little said.

ARLP dollars are available for the purchase of commercial property and land, building office/store renovations, acquisition of office/store equipment and other fixed assets, working capital related to expansion of business, and inventory, i.e., products and materials.

The ARLP and other Atlanta Open for Business Fund programs support the City of Atlanta and partners’ ongoing equitable economic development goals in the city and create opportunities for more minority-owned small businesses to build wealth and prosper. Additional Atlanta Open for Business Fund programs will launch later in 2022.

To learn more about the Atlanta Recovery Loan Program and to apply, businesses should visit www.investatlanta.com/atlantarecovery.