is the oldest revolving community loan fund in Arkansas.
The mission of FORGE is to promote community development and economic sustainability by linking investors with borrowers, urban and rural communities, consumers with producers, and low income groups with basic affordable credit.
As a nonprofit, mission-driven organization, FORGE provides access to affordable capital and business development services to small businesses and nonprofit organizations that are financially viable but otherwise have difficulty obtaining loan capital from banks and other conventional lenders. Since its founding in 1988, FORGE has served entrepreneurs throughout the Ozarks and the state of Arkansas with technical assistance, business development training, and microlending, working primarily with low-income individuals and services tailored to those communities.
Headquartered in Huntsville, Arkansas, FORGE is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Intermediary Microlender, and a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
For 30 years, FORGE has fulfilled its mission of helping to build sustainable communities and we will not let our neighbors down in their time of need. We are expanding our lending and our assets are growing. The bottom line is that FORGE has maintained its strength because we make good loans to good people who do good work in their communities.
Our Mission
FORGE, through its community based lending activities, seeks to promote community development and enhance the quality of life and economic sustainability of agrarian communities by linking…
Your Future is Our Future
Success Stories
This thriving local salon, founded by local (rockstar) stylists Roxie Hunt and Melissa Arens, got it’s start with help from a FORGE Small Business Loan.
Rick and Laura Lynn Gilbert had a simple solution to a complex problem. And with a FORGE loan, they were able to expand their rain barrel system into a sustainable business that now attracts master gardeners across the Ozarks.
The volunteer builders of the Headwater School used energy efficient innovative straw bale construction for the exterior walls of their school building.