Who We Are
Baltimore Business Lending, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Baltimore Community Lending, Inc., is a small business lending program designed to provide capital to emerging and growing small businesses that are creditworthy, but lack the equity or collateral necessary to qualify for traditional lending resources. The purpose of the program is to ensure access to capital for small business creation in Baltimore. This will provide employment opportunities to strengthen the economy of the City and increase the availability of goods and services to area residents to further the revitalization and stabilization of challenged neighborhoods.
Why Small Business Loans?
Since 1989, Baltimore Community Lending has been supporting the revitalization and strengthening of underserved Baltimore neighborhoods through innovative and flexible financing designed to promote community development. In 2015 ,BCL worked with small business advocates, banks, CDFIs, foundations, and nonprofit networks to identify impediments and create solutions to financial access for small businesses. The workgroup found that the biggest impediments to small business loans, particularly for women and people of color in Baltimore City, are lack of collateral and lack of experience in the technical aspects of business ownership. Thus, BBL was created to address those impediments.
Partnerships
BBL offers its loan program through a collaborative effort with stakeholders rather than being competitive in an underserved market. We partner with other CDFIs, banks, and technical assistance providers to support entrepreneurs in a variety of ways.