A. Each program has its own set of requirements that should be reviewed as thoroughly as possible. These requirements may change from time to time, so it is always best to check before making any submissions. For more detailed information, it is always best to contact the organization providing the loan or grant or contact us at RA-AgBusiness@pa.gov
A. Times vary from program to program. Typically, paperwork can take three to four months. The better prepared you are and the more documentation you have available, the easier and quicker the process will be.
A. Previous three years of tax returns, financial statements, cash flow statements, profit/loss statements. Also, any history or statement of leans against your property and lists of your assets.
A. While we do not directly administer any of the listed programs, we have developed a relationship with the groups that do and have up-to-date information on each of the programs. The ABDC is a great first stop for finding what programs will work best for your needs. We also have the most up-to-date information on each of the programs, to make sure you stay on track with the program you are using.
A. Agricultural lending is often an underserved market, so the ABDC will do our best to provide technical assistance when requested, connect the appropriate lending institutions to the right producer and help everyone involved understand the ins and outs of farm economics.
A. Area Loan Organizations, Industrial Development Authorities, Industrial Development Corporations, state and federal agencies, as well as private lenders, each share a part in servicing your loan depending on which loan program you are using. Often, more than one will have a part in servicing your loan and will require separate payments. More details can be found in the program specifics.
A. Ag Security Areas are administered on the township level. Contacting your township supervisor is often a good first stop. You can also contact the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Farmland Preservation if you have difficulty retrieving the information from your township. For more information on Farmland Preservation contact Doug Wolfgang at dowolfgang@pa.gov
A. Depending on the program, credit history will play a significant role in your eligibility. There are programs available that are meant to help those who do not have the best credit; these can be accessed through your local SBDC.
A. Business plans serve as your compass to guide and direct your enterprise. It makes concrete your threats, challenges, opportunities, and assets to meet your business goals. It also serves as an information support for your lenders and marketing decisions.
A. In most cases, more than one person is required to review your application during the process. Multiple copies speed up the dissemination of information to those individuals and help to provide quicker return times on your projects.
A. Almost none of the state and federal loan programs allow refinancing. However, both the First Industries Fund and USDA have loan guarantee programs that could be applied by a private lender who is doing your refinance.