Small business owners must compete and succeed in a rapidly changing environment. The Rural Enterprise Assistance Project (REAP), a program of the Center for Rural Affairs, is a small business development program that can help!

REAP consists of four elements including: networking, business management training, credit (micro- loans) and technical assistance. REAP operates Nebraska’s first and only REAP Women’s Business Center and also reaches out to Hispanic entrepreneurs through the REAP Hispanic Business Center. Services we offer in each area are outlined below.

Technical Assistance

• One-on-one technical assistance with business owners or managers. Businesses may be existing or startup businesses of all types.
• Business planning assistance and troubleshooting consultations.
• Cash flow and budget assistance.
• Loan packaging assistance.

Micro Loan Fund Access

• Direct Lending – participants are eligible for loans up to $50,000.
• REAP Online Lending System – applications for REAP Rapid Loans up to $10,000 and loans up to $20,000 can be completed online or the online application can be used as the pre-application for business loans from $20,000 to $50,000. Find out more here.
• Quick GROW Express Loans – GROW Nebraska members are eligible for loans up to $10,000 and can be completed online. Find out more here.
• All entrepreneurs may receive loan packaging assistance as needed.

Networking – Roundtable Groups

• A partnership is established between REAP and the local community to form a REAP Roundtable. Group members meet monthly for networking, discussion topics and education. An active base of members and key contact person are critical to maintaining a roundtable group in a community.
• Access to benefits and services, including the quarterly REAP Business Update newsletter, online member directory and many others resources.

Business Training

• Roundtable groups have ongoing training at their monthly meetings.
• Roundtable groups may host a REAP Business Plan Basics Training or other small business trainings based on local interest.
• Regional workshops and Women’s Business Center training activities are available periodically.

REAP’s mission is to foster small business growth in rural areas. We are funded by Community Development Block Grant assistance through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development as well as funding from the Nebraska Microenterprise Development Act, United States Department of Agriculture and the Small Business Administration Microloan and Women’s Business Center programs among others.

Contact Jeff Reynolds, REAP Program Director, at 402.656.3091 or jeffr@cfra.org for more information.