Southern Iowa Development Group

SICOG Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)

RLF loans are intended to be gap financing for projects that may not qualify for funding through regular channels. SICOG staff is available to discuss any project prior to completion of the loan application and provide additional guidance. Two RLF’s are currently operating. Both RLF’s are designed to assist eligible businesses with fixed asset acquisition real estate and machinery and fixtures), inventory and working capital needs.

Background

In 1987 the SICOG Board of Directors envisioned a region where “local people would make local decisions”. That vision was the genesis of the Southern Iowa Development Group (SIDG), Inc. An organization to coordinate the economic development efforts associated with the region’s business and industry revolving loan fund (RLF). SIDG Inc. is an affiliate organization of the Southern Iowa Council of Governments. SIDG contracts with SICOG staff to provide administrative oversight of the program.

SIDG is a non-profit corporation with a board of directors made up of the 13 members of SICOG plus the executive director of SICOG. The purpose of the RLF is to support business activities for which credit is not otherwise available. It is the intent of “the RLF Fund” to work in conjunction with traditional lending institutions to help facilitate a project through gap financing rather than being the “primary lender.”

Program Information

It is not the intent of SIDG to fund a project that is not supported by a primary loan. The SIDG’s RLF provides low-interest loans for business and industry to create or retention jobs. Eligible activities include expansion, retention or start-up projects and RLF funds can be awarded for fixed asset and/or working capital loans.

The purpose of the fund is to promote economic development within the region by providing loans to businesses for fixed asset financing, including land acquisition, building, equipment and inventory. Additionally, the RLF program can make loans for operating capital. All loans are made under the concept of gap financing, which means that SIDG/SICOG is a secondary lender, usually providing less than 30% of a project loan, with the majority of the project funds coming from financial institutions or private investors.

Also, SIDG is assisting local governments in the administration of their local revolving loan funds. Local funds can be coupled with RLF loans for a complete business/industry financial package. As local RLF funds are repaid by business/industry, the proceeds are returned to the local fund to recapitalize it for future loans.

As of October 2022, SIDG/SICOG has made 101 loans from the Revolving Loan Fund in excess of $7.4 million and assisted in creating approximately 2,760 jobs. In total, over 46 million in private equity has been invested in SICOG’s eight counties. Loans are for periods up to twenty-five years, and have ranged in values from $20,000 to $350,000. Interest rates can be at 75% of the prime-lending rate. Applications and complete program details are available at the SICOG office. Also, please feel free to contact your local loan officer, financial institution, or local development corporation.