The Progress Fund: Financing and supporting businesses in the PA Wilds and beyond
Elk County | Elk Country of the Pennsylvania Wilds
The Progress Fund is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that is focused on providing flexible financing to new or expanding tourism-niche businesses.
Providing services across Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland, The Progress Fund is headquartered in Greensburg, PA. Since 1997, it has financed accommodations, attractions, entertainment, farms, outdoor recreation, restaurants, retail, service business, wine and spirits makers and other small businesses. Through these investments and support, the organization also encourages job creation, historic preservation, diverse business ownership, local agriculture and trail-based development.
The organization lends money for the purchase of real estate, purchase of business equipment, building remodeling/restoration, working capital to cover operating expenses, and more.
As a CDFI, The Progress Fund is able to offer flexible financing that can be structured to meet each borrower’s unique needs, including flexible collateral requirements, competitive interest rates, seasonal interest only payments, etc. It can work with Local Development Districts, banks, chambers, Economic Development Corporations, Industrial Development Corporations, etc., or act as a sole lender in a project.
Learn more about The Progress Fund or leave a review/recommendation on the organization’s Wilds Cooperative of PA profile here.
RECENT WCO MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
- Horner’s Pens: One-of-a-kind quality hand-turned pens
Ever wondered what it’s like to hold a tree in your hand? Rich Horner’s handcrafted pens, based in the I-80 Frontier landscape of the PA Wilds region, offer just that. Each pen tells a unique story, shaped by its history and craftsmanship. - Community Education Center for Elk & Cameron Counties: Promoting a vibrant and educationally diversified region
The Community Education Center for Elk and Cameron Counties has been dedicated to providing professional, academic and personal opportunities for lifelong learning since 1991. - Starr Hill Vineyard and Winery: Handcrafted PA wines for perfect moments
A father’s hobby has become a successful business at Starr Hill Vineyard and Winery. Starr Hill Vineyard and Winery is located on thirteen picturesque acres in the I-80 Frontier Landscape of the PA Wilds region.
