Small Business Loans | MetroAction, Promoting business growth in Northeastern Pennsylvania

Does not include the Small Business First loan program.

Building Better Businesses Through Lending

Since 1997, MetroAction has been committed to providing flexible small business loans to start-up and expanding small businesses in northeastern Pennsylvania. MetroAction is one of the only non-profit organizations in northeastern Pennsylvania authorized to provide microloans to small businesses through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Our Loan Programs

MetroAction specializes in working with people who cannot borrow from a bank due to lack of business experience, credit history or insufficient collateral.

STEP Loan Program $250 - $2,500

Small Business Loan Program $2,501 - $75,000

Small Business First Loan Program up to $200,000 or 50% of project costs

Luzerne County Flood Recovery Loan Program up to $100,000

Who Is Eligible?

There is no typical MetroAction client. Our clients have all encountered similar obstacles to accessing small business financing – no credit history, damaged credit or needing a loan that does not meet the bank’s criteria. And, in today’s economic climate, MetroAction is helping businesses that never had a problem getting bank financing in the past.

We fund all types of small businesses – from pre-start up to existing. MetroAction’s clients range from child care providers to restaurants and retail businesses to manufacturers and agricultural businesses.

MetroAction is the right fit for small business owners who:

Have a credit score of at least 500
If you’re not sure what your credit score is, use MyFico’s Credit Score Estimator to get a free credit score estimate. You can also obtain a free copy of your credit report once each year by using AnnualCreditReport.com. There is a small fee to get your credit score, though. If you need help repairing your credit, we recommend you contact Consumer Credit Counseling of NEPA.
Have not have declared bankruptcy in the past 24 months
Have not had any late rent or mortgage payments in the past 12 months
Are up-to-date on all bills
Exhibit steady cash flow and the ability to support monthly loan payments
Can provide a cosigner, if needed

Our Service Area

MetroAction primarily services nine counties in northeastern Pennsylvania, including Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming. However, some of our programs can fund businesses in any Pennsylvania county.

Ready to Apply

Applying for a MetroAction small business loan is simple. All applicants must complete a Pre-Qualification Application. This application provides us with an understanding of your financial situation and helps us to determine which small business loan program best suits your needs.

You can apply online or download a Pre-Qualification Application. Once we receive your completed application, MetroAction staff will contact you within 24-48 hours with the next steps.

If you do qualify to apply for a MetroAction small business loan, you will need to complete a business plan and cash flow projections. We have some helpful tutorials, links, templates and tools available to help you with this.

Building Better Businesses Through Lending

Refer a Business

As a non-profit organization, MetroAction relies on community support for our small business loan, assistance and award programs. If you have a client that would benefit from one of our programs or services, please refer them to us. MetroAction staff will contact the referral within 24-48 hours.

Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.