About this programme
CLIMBER stands for Colorado Loans to Increase Mainstreet Business Economic Resiliency. The fund provides up to $250 million in working capital loans to Colorado small businesses hurt by the pandemic and the economic struggles that followed, aiming to keep businesses resilient and to create and save jobs.
Participating lenders include banks, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), credit unions and nonprofit lenders, who make the actual loans to small business customers.
A 5-member Small Business Resiliency Oversight Board, chaired by the State Treasurer, oversees the program by statute: it sets loan eligibility criteria and product parameters, works to ensure equitable access to capital across all 64 Colorado counties, collects loan data, and sets other program requirements. The board meets quarterly.
How it works
Eligible small businesses can borrow between $10,000 and $500,000 in working capital, at below-market interest rates.
Loans come with a one-year deferred payment option, giving a business breathing room before payments start.
Because the loans are made through participating lenders rather than directly by the state, terms and process can vary somewhat by which lender a business works with.
Who can apply
The business must have between 1 and 99 employees.
It must have been financially stable before the pandemic but now need working capital to survive.
How to apply
- Visit the CLIMBER website to find a participating lender, CDFI, credit union or nonprofit lender.
- Apply for a working capital loan of $10,000 to $500,000 through that lender.
Frequently asked
How much can I borrow through CLIMBER?
Between $10,000 and $500,000 in working capital.
Do I apply to the state directly?
No. You apply through a participating lender, CDFI, credit union or nonprofit lender, not directly to OEDIT.
Is there a grace period before I have to start repaying?
Yes. CLIMBER loans include a one-year deferred payment option.
How many employees can my business have?
Between 1 and 99 employees, and the business must have been financially stable before the pandemic.
More funding in Colorado
Advanced Industries Accelerator — Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grant
Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) · Colorado
Colorado grant helping advanced-industries tech companies develop and commercialize technology built or manufactured in-state; current cycle due Aug 27, 2026 at 5pm MT.
Advanced Industries Proof of Concept Grant
Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) · Colorado
Colorado grant funding research institutions to move applied advanced-industries research toward commercialization, distinct from OEDIT's company-facing Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grant; current cycle due Aug 27, 2026, 5pm MT.
Advanced Industry Investment Tax Credit (AITC)
Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) · Colorado
Certified Colorado advanced-industry startups can offer investors a state income tax credit worth 25 to 35 percent of their investment.
Cash Collateral Support
Colorado OEDIT, managed by Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) · Colorado
A state cash deposit backs your loan collateral when a Colorado business cannot meet a lender's collateral requirement.
Colorado Credit Reserve
Colorado OEDIT, managed by Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) · Colorado
A state-backed loan loss reserve that helps Colorado businesses get bank loans up to $500,000 they otherwise would not qualify for.
Colorado Revolving Loan Fund
Colorado OEDIT, funded by the US Economic Development Administration · Colorado
Startup and working capital loans from $5,000 to $750,000 for small and medium Colorado businesses, with priority for underserved founders.
All 10 programmes in Colorado →
Reviewed 2026-09-25. Programmes change, so check eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private firm and is not part of any government body.