At a glance
From its website, read 2 Nov 2026Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, Inc. is a loan fund based in Berea, Kentucky. Its website describes small-dollar emergency loans, energy-efficiency loans, SBA-backed loans and 1 other loan type. Where it lends: 54 Appalachian counties in Kentucky (Eastern Kentucky). It says it considers borrowers with low or no credit history. You can start an application online. It serves borrowers in Spanish.
Each point is backed by a quote further down this page. Terms change: confirm with the lender.
How to reach them and apply
| Main | (859) 986-2373 source |
|---|---|
| Phone | (859) 544-0023 source |
| info@mtassociation.org source | |
| Apply online | Page with the application link |
| Website | www.mtassociation.org |
| Office (official list) | 433 Chestnut Street, Berea, KY 40403 |
What their website says about applying
If you’re ready to start the loan process, please visit the link below.
sourceFor existing businesses, we often need financials and personal income tax statements for the last three years.
sourceFor businesses that are just getting started, we will need a business plan and basic financial projections.
source
Phone numbers and addresses are the ones on the lender's own site and the CDFI Fund list. CDFI Atlas does not take applications.
Rates and terms they state
Read 2 Nov 2026| Loan | Stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans (general) | Rate stated, not as an APR: see their wording | Interest rates typically range from 5% to 9.75% with flexible terms. | source |
| Small-dollar / emergency loans | Rate stated, not as an APR: see their wording | 0% for the first 12 months and then 3.75% if directly impacted; 0% the first six months and then 3.75% if indirectly impacted by disaster | source |
| Energy / solar / efficiency loans | Rate stated, not as an APR: see their wording | For loans specifically for solar installations, we offer 4% fixed interest with 20 year terms. | source |
| Energy / solar / efficiency loans | Rate stated, not as an APR: see their wording | 5% interest rate | source |
| Energy / solar / efficiency loans | Term: see their wording | Up to 72 month terms | source |
As published on the lender's website on that date, not an offer or a quote. Your rate depends on the lender's review. A missing rate means the pages we read did not state one. For consumer loans we repeat a rate only when the lender states it as an APR (annual percentage rate, which includes fees); otherwise read the lender's own wording and ask for the APR.
Who qualifies, in their words
- Low or damaged credit considered
Many of our borrowers have credit scores that disqualify them from getting a traditional bank loan.
source - Collateral required
Loans typically require collateral, which is what you will pledge in the event you are unable to repay the loan.
source
Only rules the lender's own pages state. Other requirements may apply.
Official record
CDFI Fund list, 21 Oct 2026| Institution type | Loan fund |
|---|---|
| Native CDFI | No |
| Date certified (as listed) | 17 Sep 2013 |
| RSSD ID | — (none listed) |
| Address | 433 Chestnut Street, Berea, KY 40403 Directions (Google Maps) |
| Website | www.mtassociation.org |
Head officeBranch or officeApproximate (ZIP code area)
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, © OpenMapTiles, tiles OpenFreeMap. Head-office points: U.S. Census Bureau geocoder.
Loans and eligibility
Verified from lender site on 2 Nov 2026Read from 7 pages of the lender's website on 2 Nov 2026. Quotes are verbatim. Extracted with AI help from the pages listed below and checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a person. Confidence: high. The KISRA micro-loan article describes another organization's program and was excluded; the Grow EKY page is dated 2026. Terms change — confirm with the lender before applying.
| Product | Amount stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim, incl. menu labels) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small-dollar / emergency loans | — | that have experienced an emergency, such as essential equipment breaking down, damage from fire, building damage from a vehicle, vandalization, etc. | source |
| Energy / solar / efficiency loans | $1,000 – $50,000 | Loan amounts from $1,000-$50,000 | source |
| SBA-backed loans (7(a)/504/Community Advantage) | — | We are a SBA lender. Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. | source |
| Small-business loans | from $1,000 | Loans range from $1,000 to over $1 million. | source |
Loan sizes
Service area
54 Appalachian counties in Kentucky (Eastern Kentucky)
We serve the 54 Appalachian counties in Kentucky.
source
Borrower focus
- Nonprofits
Our new Loan Fund provides flexible financing with reduced fees and support for eligible businesses and nonprofits creating impact in four essential areas:
source
Languages
- Spanish
Spanish interpreter, and provide
source
Online application
Yes — the site links to an application. START YOUR LOAN INQUIRY
source
Pages read (7)
- https://mtassociation.org/
- https://mtassociation.org/uncategorized/kisra-micro-loan-program-supports-small-businesses/
- https://mtassociation.org/lending/paycheck-protection-program-offers-historic-support-for-eastern-kentucky-businesses/
- https://mtassociation.org/energyloan/
- https://mtassociation.org/lending/grow-eky-loan-fund-supporting-the-businesses-our-communities-depend-on/
- https://mtassociation.org/lending/
- https://mtassociation.org/loan-inquiry/
Questions to ask when you contact them
Based on what their website said when we read it on 2 Nov 2026, and what it left out. Something missing here does not mean they don't offer it: ask.
- What are the smallest and the largest loans you make?
No loan amounts are stated on their website. - What is the APR, including fees, on your small-dollar emergency loans and energy-efficiency loans?
Their website states a rate, but not as an APR. The APR includes fees, so it is the number to compare. - Do you offer free coaching or help preparing my application?
CDFI certification requires development services, such as training or advice, alongside lending. - What documents will you need from me, and how long does a decision usually take?
Their website describes some application steps (above); ask for the full document list.
Write down the answers, who you spoke to and the date, and ask for the terms in writing before you sign.
CDFI Fund awards
CDFI Fund database, 3 Nov 2026$12 million in 15 awards from the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund, 1998–2021 (CDFI Program, Financial Assistance; CDFI Program, Technical Assistance; CDFI Rapid Response Program).
| Round year | Program | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CDFI Rapid Response Program | $1,826,265 |
| 2016 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $500,000 |
| 2014 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $1,500,000 |
| 2012 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $1,453,806 |
| 2011 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $1,500,000 |
| 2010 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $750,000 |
| 2009 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $2,000,000 |
| 2008 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $1,098,698 |
| 2007 | CDFI Program, Technical Assistance | $98,465 |
| 2006 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $585,000 |
| 2004 | CDFI Program, Technical Assistance | $48,100 |
| 2002 | CDFI Program, Financial Assistance | $500,000 |
| 2000 | CDFI Program, Technical Assistance | $52,000 |
| 1999 | CDFI Program, Technical Assistance | $50,000 |
| 1998 | CDFI Program, Technical Assistance | $25,000 |
These are awards and investments made to the institution itself to build its capital and capacity. They are not loans to borrowers, and an award does not mean the lender has money available for a particular loan today.
Source: CDFI Fund Searchable Awards Database, all 12,628 award records (1996–2025), read 3 Nov 2026. Years are the award round as the database lists it. Matched to the official CDFI list by exact name and state; see the method on the About page.
Size of the fund (IRS Form 990)
Fiscal year ending Apr 2024| Total assets | $38M |
|---|---|
| Total liabilities | $8.8M |
| Net assets | $29.2M |
| Total revenue | $8.1M |
| Notes and loans receivable, net (Part X line 7) | $18.9M |
| Program-related investments (Part X line 13) | $49,500 |
End-of-year figures from the Form 990 this organisation filed with the IRS for the fiscal year ending April 2024 (tax year 2023; EIN 31-0900246, filed as “MOUNTAIN ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INC”), taken from the IRS Annual Extract of Tax-Exempt Organization Financial Data (returns processed in 2024). Figures are self-reported to the IRS, not audited by us, and lag one to two years behind today. The lender’s own annual report may show newer numbers. This organisation’s filings on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Filings over time
| Fiscal year ending | Total assets | Net assets | Revenue | Notes and loans receivable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2022 (990) | $33.2M | $25.1M | $8.6M | $14.1M |
| Apr 2023 (990) | $35.7M | $26.6M | $6M | $14.1M |
| Apr 2024 (990) | $38M | $29.2M | $8.1M | $18.9M |
Total assets grew 14% from Apr 2022 to Apr 2024; notes and loans receivable rose 34%. One row per fiscal year in the IRS extracts of returns processed in 2022, 2023, 2024; “—” = the line was empty or zero on that return (a fund can book its loans on other lines).
How it compares
Computed from public data| Measure | This lender | Compared with |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets, latest IRS Form 990 | $38M | Larger than 67% of the 9 other certified loan funds and venture funds in Kentucky with a matched Form 990 (median $27.5M). |
How these comparisons were worked out
| Measure | Peer group (this lender left out) | Peers | Where this lender sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form 990 total assets | certified loan and venture funds with a Form 990, in Kentucky | 9 | larger than 67% |
“Larger than X%” = the share of the peer group with a smaller value. Ranks count from the largest. Peer groups use the lender's home state when it has at least 5 peers, otherwise the whole country. Full definitions: methodology.
For comparison, not an offer and not a rating. Past records show what this lender did, not what you would be offered. Peer groups and sources: methodology. Form 990 figures: IRS annual extracts (see the Form 990 section).
Other certified CDFIs in Berea and Kentucky
- Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises, Inc.Loan fund · Berea, KYOfficial list only
- Catalytic Development Funding Corp. of Northern KentuckyLoan fund · Covington, KYCommercial real estate loans, Affordable housing development loansVerified
- Community Ventures Corporation, Inc.Loan fund · Lexington, KYSBA-backed loans (7(a)/504/Community Advantage), Small-business loansVerified
- Frontier Housing, Inc.Loan fund · Morehead, KYHome repair / improvement loans, Home mortgagesVerified
- Kentucky Highlands Investment CorporationLoan fund · London, KYAgriculture / farm loans, Equipment loans, Microloans, Small-business loansVerified
- Louisville Housing Opportunities and Micro-Enterprise Community Development Loan Fund, Inc., TheLoan fund · Louisville, KYSmall-dollar / emergency loans, Energy / solar / efficiency loans, Home repair / improvement loans, Small-business loansVerified
Work at Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, Inc.? Link to this page
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