Nimiipuu Community Development Fund — Business Loans
Nimiipuu Community Development Fund (NCDF)
$2,500-$35,000
Nez Perce business capital
The Nimiipuu Community Development Fund (NCDF), established as an independent 501(c)(3) in 2013, is a certified Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) whose mission is to foster economic growth for the Nez Perce tribal community through entrepreneurial capacity-building and access to business capital. Based in Lapwai, Idaho, NCDF provides business loans, credit-builder loans, individual loans, home improvement loans, and an employee loan program, along with technical support, business counseling, and asset-building services. Its business loans run from $2,500 to $10,000 for start-up businesses and from $2,500 to $35,000 for existing businesses, priced at roughly 2% to 6% over the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate. NCDF serves both tribal and non-tribal community members on or near the Nez Perce Reservation and surrounding areas across Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and is developing an agribusiness/healthy-foods loan product.
- Funding type
- Loan
- Level
- Private
- Amount range
- $2,500 – $35,000
- Realistic amount
- Start-ups borrow $2,500-$10,000; existing businesses can borrow up to $35,000. Loans are mod…
- Deadline
- Rolling — applications accepted year-round.
- Status
- active
- States
- Idaho, Oregon, Washington
- Payment model
- loan
Who qualifies
- Tribal and non-tribal community members on or near the Nez Perce Reservation and surrounding areas
- Service area spans Idaho, Oregon, and Washington
- Business purpose consistent with the start-up or existing-business loan product
- Engagement with NCDF's business counseling / technical assistance as needed
- Adequate repayment capacity
Hard requirements
- Must be in a rural area
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Business start-up costs
- Working capital
- Equipment and inventory
- Small business expansion
- Agricultural / healthy-foods business costs (product in development)
Ineligible expenses
- Personal expenses unrelated to the business
- Businesses outside the Nez Perce Reservation service area (ID/OR/WA)
- Speculative or non-business purposes
How to apply
-
1
Contact NCDF and confirm service area
Reach out ((208) 621-3729) to confirm you're within the Nez Perce Reservation service area (ID/OR/WA) and discuss which business loan product fits.
~2 hrs
-
2
Business counseling and plan
Engage NCDF's business counseling and technical assistance to prepare or strengthen your business plan and loan readiness.
~10 hrs
-
3
Submit application and documentation
Provide the loan application, business plan, financials, and use-of-funds for the start-up or existing-business product.
~5 hrs
-
4
Underwriting, approval, and disbursement
NCDF reviews and, on approval, disburses funds per the loan agreement.
~2 hrs
Use NCDF's free business counseling before you apply — it's a small CDFI built around capacity-building, and a counselor-reviewed business plan markedly improves your odds on a start-up loan. Non-tribal community members in the service area are eligible too, which is unusual among reservation CDFIs.
Deadline & timing
No application cycle. Loans are paired with business counseling and technical assistance, which may add steps before funding for first-time borrowers.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.