Small Business Lending Academy

Helping Entrepreneurs build tools, resources, and confidence needed to secure funding. 

The Arizona Commerce Authority, in partnership with Growth Partners Arizona, presents The Small Business Lending Academy, a hands-on, step-by-step program for small business owners seeking to secure capital by confidently approaching funders with the financial tools, business narrative, and capital strategy they need to succeed.

Whether preparing for a loan, grant, or equity investment, the program helps small business owners understand what funders are looking for, organize their financials, and build a realistic capital plan to support sustainable business growth.

This comprehensive eight-week program is offered at no cost, with limited enrollment and designed for Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Businesses (SEDI) and Very Small Businesses (VSBs) to assist in generating the proper documentation for a microloan (under $50,000).

Applications for the Small Business Lending Academy close April 30, 2026.

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Participants will benefit from the expertise of financial and lending professionals who will guide them through building a lender-ready capital folder, developing a 12-month financial forecast, and crafting a compelling business narrative. This eight-week program helps small business owners organize their financials, understand what funders are looking for, and walk away with the tools and confidence to pursue funding.

• A lender-ready financial document folder
• A 12-month forecast and working budget
• A polished business narrative and practice pitch
• Reusable tools and templates to support your ongoing growth 

Completing the program does not guarantee loan approval. Each business is at a different stage of growth and individual results may vary.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to:

• Get organized financially
• Understand how funders and lenders make decisions
• Build confidence in funding conversations
• Prepare strong, realistic financial documents and capital plans

This program is geared towards businesses that have the minimum requirements below:

• Preparing to seek a business loan under $50,000 
• Yearly gross revenue under $250,000 
• Must be in business at least 2+ Years (active, not just established) 
• Be a Socially Economically Disadvantaged Individual (SEDI) OR Very Small Business (VSB - Under 10 employees)
• Two years of personal federal income tax returns and the previous year's business tax return  
• Must be located in Arizona 
• Currently have a financial system in place to track business expenditures and income (ex: QuickBooks, FreshBooks, Xero, Wave, business accountant, etc.)

If your business does not meet these requirements or you are a business looking for assistance getting started, please review the small business checklist for more information.