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Mississippi CDFI Small Business Loan Fund
General · Mississippi Development Authority (SSBCI) · MS
The Mississippi CDFI Small Business Loan Fund is an SSBCI-funded loan participation program, run by the Mississippi Development Authority, that channels about $45 million through community development financial institutions to provide loans to Mississippi small businesses and startups that can't get traditional bank financing.
The Mississippi CDFI Small Business Loan Fund is a loan participation program funded through the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) and administered by the Mississippi Development Authority. Rather than issuing cash grants directly to businesses, this program channels roughly $45 million through participating community development financial institutions (CDFIs), which then use the funds to support loans and lines of credit to Mississippi small businesses and startups.
This program exists to help fill a financing gap for Mississippi entrepreneurs and small business owners who cannot secure conventional bank debt, whether because of limited collateral, thin credit history, or a tightened lending environment. By working through non-depository CDFIs — mission-driven lenders that specialize in serving underserved borrowers — the state aims to get capital into the hands of businesses that traditional banks might turn away.
For a small business owner, this matters because it represents an alternative financing path: instead of applying to a bank directly, you would work with a participating CDFI that has access to this state-backed pool of capital. Because it is a loan program and not a grant, funds borrowed through this initiative would need to be repaid according to the terms set by the individual CDFI lender.
Details such as current funding availability, specific loan terms, interest rates, and whether new rounds are open change over time. Business owners interested in this program should confirm current details, participating CDFI lenders, and eligibility requirements directly at the official Mississippi Development Authority source listed below before assuming any specific terms.
Who qualifies
How to apply
Questions people ask
Is this a grant or a loan?
It is a loan participation program, not a cash grant, though it is funded through the federal SSBCI program.
Do I have to repay the money?
Yes, since it is structured as a loan, funds borrowed through a participating CDFI must be repaid per that lender's terms.
Who runs this program?
The Mississippi Development Authority administers it using SSBCI funding, channeling money through participating CDFIs.
Who is eligible?
Mississippi small businesses and startups that cannot access traditional bank debt, applying through a participating CDFI.
How much funding is available?
Roughly $45 million is channeled through CDFIs statewide, but individual loan amounts are not specified — confirm at the source.
What is the deadline?
The listing says to check current rounds; no fixed deadline is given.
Where do I apply?
Apply through a participating CDFI lender; program details are at https://mississippi.org/state-small-business-credit-initiative/.
Is this only for Mississippi businesses?
Yes, it is limited to Mississippi small businesses and startups.
Can startups apply?
Yes, startups are explicitly included in the eligibility description.
Is the loan taxable?
Confirm at the source, as tax treatment of loan proceeds is not addressed in the given facts.
Do I apply directly to the state?
No, you apply through a participating CDFI rather than directly to the Mississippi Development Authority.
What if I already have bank financing?
This program targets businesses that cannot access traditional bank debt, so confirm eligibility if you already have bank financing.
Opportunity number: not published. Source: curated + verified (official state source, 2026). GetFundedUSA is independent and not affiliated with Mississippi Development Authority (SSBCI); always confirm current deadlines, amounts and eligibility on the sponsor's own page before applying.