About the Business Finance Program

Economic vitality is key to northeastern Minnesota’s future, and that is why we are in the business of business financing.

In 1988, the Northland Foundation began providing business loans to help bridge the gaps between other sources of financing available to northeastern Minnesota businesses. Since then, we have made over $45 million in business lending investments which were instrumental in leveraging more than $275 million in other, mostly private investments and helped create or retain more than 6,500 jobs in our region.

The program offers flexible financing to people starting new or maintaining existing businesses in the seven-county Arrowhead Region. Recipients may be for-profit or nonprofit entities that meet certain financial and social guidelines. The Northland Foundation is a certified CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution). Visit the Opportunity Finance Network's website to view a short video about CDFIs.

For more details, please email John Elden, Director of Business Finance or Kurt Johnson, Senior Loan Officer, or call (218) 723-4040 or 1-800-433-4045.