CEN-TEX Certified Development Corporation Receives $1.5 million in Federal Funds

BCL of Texas is a public non-profit corporation created in 1990 and received a charter from the U.S. Small Business Administration to facilitate commercial real estate loans.  Today BCL of Texas provided business counseling and access to capital and is the only statewide SBA micro lender in Texas.  The BCL of Texas board consists of representatives from area banks, businesses, community and governmental organizations.  Through public sector financing programs, BCL of Texas has facilitated over $300 million in business lending, provided over 14,000 hours of business counseling and created over 4,000 jobs all which stimulate the economic growth and development of the communities it serves.

Its main stay, the Small Business Administration 504 Loan Program enables small businesses to access long term capital markets for financing at or below the prevailing market rates typically offered by conventional bank financing.  BCL of Texas also administers an Economic Development Administration Revolving Loan Fund Program and is an intermediary small business lender for the U.S. Department of Agriculture helping rural businesses to access capital.  Through its public sector financing programs, BCL of Texas offers the best long term financing structure available to most small businesses for continued growth and expansion.

"For more than 21 years, we have been working to grow Texas businesses and today, the opportunity to do so remains strong. We are excited to receive the CDFI funding and are ready to put that money to good use.  BCL of Texas is true to its mission, jobs creation through women, minority, rural and veteran owned businesses as our highest priority," said Rosa Rios Valdez, Executive Director, BCL of Texas.

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