About the Business Finance Program

Economic vitality is key to northeastern Minnesota’s future, and that is why we are in the business of business financing.

In 1988, the Northland Foundation began providing business loans to help bridge the gaps between other sources of financing available to northeastern Minnesota businesses. Since then, we have made over $40 million in business lending investments which were instrumental in leveraging more than $250 million in other, mostly private investments and helped create or retain more than 6,000 jobs in our region.

The program offers flexible financing to people starting new or maintaining existing businesses in the seven-county Arrowhead Region which includes the counties of Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis. Options include Business Loans, Royalty Investments, and Loan Guarantees. Recipients may be for-profit or nonprofit entities that meet certain financial and social guidelines.

For more details, please email John Elden, Director of Business Finance or Kurt Johnson, Senior Loan Officer, or call (218) 723-4040 or 1-800-433-4045.