NORTHLAND FOUNDATION

The business services program offers technical assistance and flexible financing to assist with business start-up and expansion within our 7-county region, in order to bolster the regional economy and promote job creation - critical components of thriving communities. Financing is often in the form of gap lending made in partnership with banks or other development lenders. Borrowers may be for-profit or nonprofit entities. In fiscal year 2025, northland closed 17 loans totaling $3 million which helped create leverage of $21.6 million in other investments. Northland foundation hosts the regional small business development center (sbdc). The sbdc's mission is to "help entrepreneurs and businesses grow and succeed" by providing technical assistance and one-on-one consulting services to small and medium sized businesses at no cost to the client. The regional center is located in duluth; there are also five other satellite offices spread across the region. The regional footprint of the sbdc matches the northland foundation footprint.