According to a recent release, the Kansas City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is accepting applications for the Missouri Small Business Relief Loan Fund. 

“While it may be a while before we know the full impact of COVID-19 on the Kansas City economy, the Mayor, City Council and the EDC recognize that small businesses are the lifeblood to our city, and sometimes these businesses don’t have access to the same resources as larger ones,” says T’Risa McCord, President and CEO of EDCKC. “Through our LoanUP program, our team has experience and expertise providing loans to businesses that have had challenges working with traditional banks. We intend to help them through this time.”

According to the EDC website, “the Kansas City Missouri Small Business Relief Loan Fund will provide funding to help small businesses within the city limits of Kansas City Missouri continue to finance operational expenses during this unprecedented period of economic stress due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The Fund allows for low interest rate loans, deferred payments for the first 6-12 months, and extended amortization periods of up to five years. There are no minimum credit score and flexible collateral requirements.

The KCMO City Council provided the EDC with $500,000 as a loan loss reserve fund to help create this relief loan program.

For decades, EDC has assisted and supported small businesses in the community through the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City Loan Corporation (EDCLC), which also is known as LoanUP. EDCLC has partnered with the City of Kansas City, Missouri, in effort to further assist additional small businesses seeking financial relief from the adverse economic and market conditions created by the COVID-19 crisis.

Loan Terms Include:

  • Up to 5-year terms
  • Loan amounts up to $25,000
  • Up to 4.5% Interest Rates
  • Zero interest and deferred payments for the first 6-12months
  • No minimum credit score is required
  • No pre-payment penalties
  • Flexible Collateral requirements

  Eligibility:

  • Private, for profit businesses that are considered small as per the Small Business Administration guidelines
  • Small businesses deemed “non-essential” and/or disproportionately impacted by the government-issued public health restrictions. These businesses are generally described as: retail, food service, entertainment, personal service, and hospitality, healthcare not directly involved in the COVID-19 response, transportation, and fitness industries
  • Based and located in the City Limits of Kansas City, Missouri
  • Have $750,000 or less in annual revenue
  • Borrower must demonstrate profitability, a positive tangible net worth and show repayment ability
  • Be able to provide income verification (past 6 months of financial statements and past 2 years of personal/business tax returns
  • Two forms of ID
  • Home-based businesses are not eligible
  • Not for political activities, private clubs, financing/ investment companies, or a business in which a state, local or federal elected official, or employee of City has ownership
  • Applicants must provide detail of any Principals or Officers of the Business who have applied for a small business loan in the last 30 days
  • Other criteria may apply

  Application Process:

  • The Small Business Relief Loan Fund Applications are located at EDCKC.com (COVID-19 Relief – Small Business Relief Loan Fund Application page)
  • Paper Applications are available at EDCKC, 300 Wyandotte, KCMO, and 4th Floor Kiosk (at EDCKC office front door). These can be returned via the same location or scanned and emailed to SBLF@edckc.com
  • For program information questions, call (816-897-0208), or email (SBLF@edckc.com)
  • Applications will be approved for funding by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri
  • Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri will process the applications as quickly as possible