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Sagehill Community Futures Launches Women’s Initiative Fund to Empower Female Entrepreneurs

Sagehill Community Futures has announced the launch of its new Women’s Initiative Fund, a program specifically designed to support women in entrepreneurship. Whether for securing capital funding, developmental support, or purchasing equipment for part-time ventures, this fund aims to provide essential financial resources for women looking to start or expand their businesses.

“This is a loan fund tailored for women who are either starting a business, purchasing an existing one, or expanding their current operations,” said Susan Wehage, Executive Director of Sagehill Community Futures. “Eligible expenses covered by the loans include startup costs, working capital, business expansion or renovations, inventory purchases, and capital expenditures.”

The Women’s Initiative Fund offers loans of up to $45,000, with a fixed interest rate of prime plus two percent over a 60-month term. The loan structure is designed with flexibility in mind: there are no prepayment penalties, and borrowers only pay interest for the first six months before transitioning to blended monthly payments for the remainder of the term.

“This fund is ideal for anyone with a side-hustle looking to turn it into a part-time, seasonal, or even full-time business,” Wehage explained. “It’s about helping women take that next critical step in their entrepreneurial journey.”

Accessing funds for new ventures can often be challenging through traditional lending institutions. Sagehill’s Community Futures lending programs are designed to offer the flexibility that many early-stage entrepreneurs require.

“All loan decisions are made locally by our volunteer board of directors,” Wehage noted. “If we receive all the necessary information from the client, we typically have a turnaround time of five to seven business days for loan applications.”

The Women’s Initiative Fund is part of Sagehill Community Futures’ broader commitment to fostering economic development in the community by empowering women entrepreneurs. This new program is expected to significantly impact the local business landscape, providing women with the financial tools they need to succeed.

 

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