This program is not currently active. Please contact us to learn more about our other lending programs.
The Maryland Capital Access Program is a revitalization resource to support the growth and success of small businesses in Priority Funding Areas throughout the State of Maryland. This is a credit enhancement program that enables private lenders to establish a loan loss reserve fund from fees paid by lenders, borrowers, and the State of Maryland. Communities that have small businesses receiving financing through loans enrolled will benefit from new or expanded services provided by the small businesses.
Eligible Borrowers
Most Maryland small businesses, including nonprofit organizations, are eligible. Businesses must be located in Maryland's "Priority Funding Areas" approved by the Maryland Department of Planning for State funding in accordance with the Smart Growth Act of 1997.
Eligible Lenders
Lenders that may participate are federally insured financial institutions, institutions regulated by the Commissioner of Financial Regulation, and others who have a participation agreement with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Current participating lenders are; BB&T, Bank of America, PNC Bank and SunTrust Bank.
How the Maryland Capital Access Program Works
A small business applies to a participating lender. The lender underwrites and enrolls an appropriate loan (or portion of a loan). Enrolled amounts may range from $10,000 to $1,000,000. Typical loans under this program would be those that fall slightly outside the lender's normal credit guidelines.
The lender, borrower, and the Maryland Capital Access Program deposit their contributions into a reserve account. Typically, the borrower and lender make up one-half of the contribution and Maryland Capital Access Program matches that amount. An example would be: 1.5 percent each from the lender and borrower, or a total of 3 percent, and a 3 percent match from the Maryland Capital Access Program, for a total of 6 percent of the original loan amount for the reserve account. The lender determines the amount of contribution within a range established by the Maryland Capital Access Program.
A one-page enrollment form with summary information is submitted to the Maryland Capital Access Program by the lender. There is one reserve account for each financial institution where all their enrolled loans are placed. In the event an early loan defaults, reserves may not be sufficient to cover the loss. In that case, additional withdrawals from the reserve account may be made on subsequently enrolled loans, providing the remaining balance of the claim is not greater than 75 percent of the balance in the reserve account. Early loans are considered to be the first two million dollars of enrolled loans made by the lender.
If a loan goes into default and the lender has performed their normal methods of collection, at the time of charge-off a lender uses a one-page form to file a claim for all or part of an enrolled loan.
Current participating lenders
Additional Benefits of the Program
- Easy and timely loan processing for both the lender and the small business borrower.
- Assistance to borrowers who may not be covered under other existing loan programs.
- May be combined with other loan programs.
- Can be used for both lines of credit and term loans.
- Leverages $1 million of State funds to develop approximately $33 million in small business loans.
Restrictions
A project financed by a loan enrolled must be located in a Priority Funding Area.
The following types of projects and activities will not be considered for enrollment:
- The proceeds of the loan will not be used to finance passive real estate ownership.
- Residential or transient living facilities, e.g., multifamily or single-family housing developments, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, crisis care centers, group homes, transitional housing, and homeless shelters.
- Facilities such as community halls, fire stations, hospitals, colleges, or universities.
- Adult bookstores, adult video shops, other adult entertainment facilities, check cashing facility, gambling facilities, liquor stores, massage parlors, pawn or gun shops, tanning salons, or tattoo parlors.
- The proceeds of the loan will not be used for the furtherance of sectarian religious instruction.
More Information
CONTACT: Business Lending Team
E:
dhcd.businesslending@maryland.gov
P:
301-429-7408
