About this programme
Mountain Association is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) lender serving the 54 Appalachian counties of Kentucky, with offices in Berea, Prestonsburg and Hazard. It lends to small business owners, nonprofit leaders and local governments who often cannot get a loan from a traditional bank.
Standard business loans run from $1,000 to over $1 million, at interest rates that typically range from 5% to 9.75%, with flexible terms of 1 to 20 years depending on the purpose of the loan. Decisions on loans under $50,000 are typically made within 2 to 10 business days once all required information is in.
Alongside its standard product, Mountain Association runs several specialty loans: Emergency Loans, Recovery Loans for disaster-impacted businesses, Energy Savings loans, Solar loans, Nonprofit loans, and CrowdMatch loans that match crowdfunding campaigns.
How it works
Loan fees are 2% of the loan amount for loans of $50,000 or less, and typically 1.5% for loans above $50,000; additional fees may apply for UCC filings, mortgage filings, appraisals or title liens.
Emergency Loans run $1,000 to $5,000 at 3% interest for up to 3 years, require no collateral and no closing costs, and include a 90-day grace period.
Recovery Loans for disaster-impacted businesses run $1,000 to over $100,000, with 0% interest for the first 12 months then 3.75% after, over terms up to 10 years, with flexible collateral requirements.
Energy Savings loans run $1,000 to $50,000 at 5% interest for up to 72 months, structured so the monthly payment typically equals the energy bill savings. Solar loans are fixed at 4% for up to 20 years. CrowdMatch loans match up to $10,000 of a crowdfunding campaign with no credit check required.
Who can apply
Your business (or nonprofit, or local government) must operate in one of the 54 Appalachian counties of Kentucky that Mountain Association serves.
Lending decisions weigh the vision and passion of the business owner, the impact to the community, a basic business plan with projections or historical financials, the capacity to repay, collateral and guarantors.
Mountain Association specifically works with borrowers whose credit scores would disqualify them from a traditional bank loan.
Loans typically require collateral and typically require personal guarantors.
How to apply
- Start an application at mtassociation.org/loan-inquiry/.
- For loans under $50,000 at an existing business, provide 3 years of business tax returns, a current year-to-date income/expense statement and balance sheet, and 2 years of personal tax returns for all owners.
- For a new business seeking under $50,000, provide a business plan, financial projections, and 2 years of personal tax returns for all owners.
- For loans over $50,000, also provide personal financial statements and business debt schedules dated within the last 3 months.
- Contact Yvonne Burchett at yvonne@mtassociation.org or (606) 594-6540, or the general line at info@mtassociation.org / (859) 986-2373, with questions.
Documents you’ll typically need
- Business tax returns (3 years, existing business)
- Current year-to-date income/expense statement and balance sheet
- Personal tax returns (2 years, all owners)
- Business plan and financial projections (new business)
- Personal financial statements and business debt schedule within 3 months (loans over $50,000)
Frequently asked
What loan amounts does Mountain Association offer?
From $1,000 up to over $1 million, depending on the loan program, at rates typically between 5% and 9.75% for standard loans.
How fast is a lending decision?
For loans under $50,000, decisions are typically made within 2 to 10 business days once all required information has been submitted.
Can I get a loan if a bank has already turned me down?
Yes. Mountain Association says it can lend to borrowers who would not qualify with a traditional lender, including those with disqualifying credit scores.
Is there a loan option for disaster recovery?
Yes, the Recovery Loan runs $1,000 to over $100,000 at 0% interest for the first 12 months, then 3.75%, over terms up to 10 years.
Which counties are eligible?
Any of the 54 Appalachian counties of eastern Kentucky that Mountain Association serves.
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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.