About this programme
The Oklahoma Business Lending Partnership Program (OBLP) provides nondilutive loans to small businesses in Oklahoma. It is a collaboration between the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) and TEDC Creative Capital (TEDC), funded through the U.S. Treasury's State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) and administered by OCAST. TEDC Creative Capital is a community development financial institution that also provides mentorship and business support to artists, entrepreneurs, and cultural organizations.
The program has a total pool of up to $32.7 million in nondilutive loans. Its priorities align with Oklahoma's Science and Innovation Strategy: businesses that support the state's three targeted sectors (biotech/life sciences; aerospace, autonomous systems, and defense; and energy diversification, including oil and gas) get preference, but most other Oklahoma enterprises are eligible and encouraged to apply. The program was created because loan capital is harder and costlier to secure in high-interest-rate environments, and small companies often lack the cash equity to meet traditional lenders' loan-to-value standards.
How it works
TEDC Creative Capital can make direct loans itself or partner with other Oklahoma-based banks to deliver the program.
The interest rate is currently 5.5% fixed for the life of the loan, with amortization tied to the useful life of the collateral and matched to the accompanying loan.
Loans require at least a 1:1 match: for every dollar borrowed from OBLP, another dollar must come from an eligible private capital source such as a bank, credit union, or Community Development Financial Institution, or a new cash infusion from the business owner.
The maximum OBLP loan itself is $5 million, with an average loan of approximately $350,000. A full transaction combining the OBLP loan with its required match may not exceed $20 million.
Fees are 3% of the loan plus out-of-pocket expenses for loans over $25,000, or a flat $750 plus minimal closing costs for loans of $25,000 or less. There is no prepayment fee and no servicing fee.
Collateral is required but flexible, and OBLP will subordinate its position to reduce risk for lending partners. A minimum 10% equity injection may be required if the borrower is a start-up or there is a collateral shortfall. A personal guarantee is required from anyone owning 20% or more of the business, and at least one guarantor needs a credit score of 625 or higher.
OBLP funds cannot be used to fund any portion of an SBA-guaranteed loan or the unguaranteed portion of a federally supported loan for the same purpose, though an OBLP loan for a different purpose is still eligible.
Who can apply
The business must be a small Oklahoma business with no more than 500 employees, counting affiliated businesses.
The business must be Oklahoma-based: its principal place of operations must be in Oklahoma, or it must commit to spending all OBLP funds in the state, register as a foreign entity, and, if applicable, file a Statement of Qualifications with the Oklahoma Secretary of State.
Eligible uses include start-up costs, working capital, franchise fees, equipment and inventory purchases, production and delivery services, and purchase, construction, renovation, or tenant improvement of a business location that is not for passive real estate investment.
Ineligible businesses include those engaged in speculative price-fluctuation activities, lending as more than half of net revenue (unless a non-depository CDFI, bank holding company, or Tribal lender), pyramid sales, federally prohibited activities, gambling deriving more than a third of gross revenue, passive real estate investment, or businesses of a prurient sexual nature.
Priority is given to socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI)-owned businesses, very small businesses (fewer than 10 employees at the time of the loan), underserved populations, and rural Oklahoma.
How to apply
- Complete the SSBCI Technical Assistance Business Intake Form to request help and start the process (https://forms.office.com/g/XBQhBKdrTH).
- Contact TEDC Creative Capital's OBLP team directly: Ray Fitzgerald, Assistant Director of Lending (ray@tedcnet.com, 918-955-7755); Bill Linsao, Director of Lending (bill@tedcnet.com, 410-302-7552); or Rose Washington-Jones, ED/CEO (rose@tedcnet.com, 918-830-4381).
- If working through a partner bank, that bank shares its credit memos, commitment letters, and other standard commercial credit documentation with TEDC, which helps structure the OBLP loan for both the borrower and the bank.
Frequently asked
Who delivers the OBLP loans?
TEDC Creative Capital, a community development financial institution, either lends directly or partners with other Oklahoma-based banks.
How large is the total funding pool?
Up to $32.7 million in nondilutive loans.
Is there a matching requirement?
Yes, loans require 1:1 matching with private capital, such as a bank, credit union, or CDFI loan, or a new cash infusion from the owner.
What does an OBLP loan cost?
A fixed 5.5% interest rate for the life of the loan, plus a 3% fee (loans over $25,000) or a flat $750 fee (loans of $25,000 or less). There is no prepayment or servicing fee.
How big can the loan be?
The OBLP loan itself maxes out at $5 million, with an average loan around $350,000. The full transaction, including the required private match, may not exceed $20 million.
Who gets priority for these loans?
Businesses supporting Oklahoma's targeted sectors (biotech/life sciences, aerospace/autonomous systems/defense, energy diversification), plus socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI)-owned businesses, very small businesses with fewer than 10 employees, underserved populations, and rural Oklahoma.
More funding in Oklahoma
Industry Innovation Program (Oklahoma Applied Research Support)
Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) · Oklahoma
OCAST matches up to $500,000 for Oklahoma companies developing new technology in aerospace, defense, biotech, or energy.
Investment/New Jobs Tax Credit Package
Oklahoma Department of Commerce / Oklahoma Tax Commission · Oklahoma
Oklahoma manufacturers get a 5-year tax credit on new capital investment or hiring, starting at just $50,000 invested.
REI Oklahoma Direct Business Loans
REI Oklahoma (Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc.) · Oklahoma
An Oklahoma CDFI lends $1,000 to $500,000 directly to startups and small businesses for launch or expansion costs.
REI Oklahoma Veteran Loan Program
REI Oklahoma (Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc.) · Oklahoma
Oklahoma veterans and qualified military members can borrow up to $15,000 from this CDFI loan fund to start or grow a business.
Small Business Incubators Incentives Act
Oklahoma Department of Commerce · Oklahoma
Startups based in a certified Oklahoma business incubator can earn a state income tax exemption for up to ten years.
Small Employer Quality Jobs Program
Oklahoma Department of Commerce · Oklahoma
Oklahoma pays small employers with 500 or fewer staff up to 5% of new payroll back each quarter for up to seven years.
All 8 programmes in Oklahoma →
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.