NEW LOAN PROGRAM HELPS FIRST 23 COLORADO BUSINESSES

AURORA — Gov. Bill Ritter today joined the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and the Colorado Enterprise Fund in announcing the first 23 businesses to benefit from the renewed Colorado Credit Reserve Program. The program is leveraging more than $400,000 in small business lending and supporting 161 new and existing jobs across the state.

“One of the best things we can do to re-energize Colorado ’s economy is to give small businesses the tools they need to succeed,” Gov. Ritter said. “These first 23 loans are just the beginning for the Colorado Credit Reserve Program. Ultimately, the program will leverage nearly $50 million in capital for hundreds of small businesses so they can grow and create new jobs throughout Colorado .”

The program was revived, after a several year hiatus, thanks to Senate Bill 67, co-sponsored by Reps. Sara Gagliardi and Don Marostica and Sen. Rollie Heath and signed into law by Gov. Ritter in May. Marostica is now director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.