NEBRASKA
Historically, Nebraskans have built their livelihoods and communities one job at a time – primarily through small, family-operated businesses and farms. Many of today’s most successful businesses in Nebraska began many years ago as small locally-owned businesses.

ENTERPRISE
Small and micro businesses are the base of Nebraska’s economy. The Nebraska Enterprise Fund (NEF) provides important support to programs that provide training, TA or loan services to these businesses as they grow and develop. NEF has created various small business and microenterprise loan products to work directly with businesses and financial institutions in filling financing gaps.

FUND
The Nebraska Enterprise Fund is a statewide financial intermediary dedicated to supporting microenterprise practitioners. In 1997 the Nebraska Microenterprise Partnership Fund became incorporated as a 501(c)(3) and became a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in 1998. In 2008, the Partnership Fund name was changed to Nebraska Enterprise Fund.

PARTNER COLLABORATION
NEF facilitates working groups with business program practitioners and other partners to design innovative solutions that build the capacity and scale of services in Nebraska. NEF fosters communication and coordination among these local non-profit and public programs to build a coordinated and permanent statewide infrastructure. Nebraska’s microenterprise development system is a nationally recognized model.

RESEARCH AND EVALUATION
NEF promotes research which aids programs' capacity to serve start-up and micro businesses and enhances public understanding of the role and needs of microenterprise. The Fund gathers data from grantees on a quarterly basis and provides a yearly report to the Legislature on activities.


DESIGN COLLABORATION
Nebraska Enterprise Fund continues to assist in the design of new approaches for micro lending programs which will serve previously under-served regions or constituencies in Nebraska. NEF designs innovative solutions/programs to build the capacity and scale of micro services in Nebraska. The Microenterprise Information Referral System, which helps link micro programs with banks, is an example of this work.
Business in both rural and urban settings, are benefiting from Nebraska’s innovative support network.

• A loan package, combining funds from the community-based development program and local bank, makes it possible for the entrepreneur to purchase equipment.
• Training on market expansion makes it possible for the artisan to take products to larger markets.
• Business plan training provides information on regulations, helping the small manufacturer comply with state and federal laws.
• One-on-one technical assistance provides the business owner with an immediate answer to questions regarding the addition of a new product line.

Nebraska Enterprise Fund raises funds from various national- and state-level sources and then awards grants, loans, and related products to microenterprise programs through an annual “request for proposal” process.