Rural-Led Business Fund

Program Details

The Rural-Led Business Fund is designed to give access to funding for entrepreneurs and small businesses in rural Colorado through loans, education, and technical assistance.

Who is eligible?

Business type: Small businesses, start-ups, and nonprofits are all eligible to apply for funding.
Location: Business must be located in Rural Colorado.

Loan terms:

Loan amount: $10,000 - $75,000
Deferred Payments for up to 90 days, upon request

To apply, contact:

info@fswcf.org

Success Stories

Law Office of Angela Lee

Angela Lee

Wolf Creek Anglers, South Fork

Fly shop

Sherpa Momo Ghar, Durango

Food truck

Bordame Esto

Prior to opening her law office, Angela obtained valuable judicial experience in the San Luis Valley’s 12th Judicial District Court, working with judges, drafting judicial opinions, conducting complex legal research, and learning about the legal needs and landscape of the region. She also has diverse experience in federal immigration courts, private law firms both big and small, as well as nonprofit legal organizations. After starting her own law practice, Angela needed help with startup costs that would help her transition from a remote business to a brick-and-mortar location.

Wolf Creek Anglers is a fly fishing shop and outfitter service that provides fishing trips on the Rio Grande River and private waters. They have been expanding their services and products, including becoming the only shop in town that carries Orvis. While they’ve been able to do some improvements on their own, they approached FSWCF about funding to continue their upgrades. In addition to their loan, Wolf Creek Anglers received a grant to help with needed technology enhancements, such as a website that allows for online booking and works on mobile devices.

After spending her teenage years and young adulthood helping at her family restaurant in Nepal, Neema wanted to offer authentic Nepalese food in downtown Durango. Sherpa Momo Ghar is proud to be a one-of-a-kind food trailer in Durango introducing the Himalayan dumpling “momo” and authentic recipes from the foothills of the Himalayas of Nepal.

“Because of FSWCF, my husband and I were able to get our business up and running. With the help of FSWCF funding, we were able to purchase the food truck as well as necessary kitchen equipment to start our business. Thanks to the dedicated team who were always very supportive throughout the loan application process.”
–Neema Sherpa

Naillali Rodriguez of Bordame Esto

"Bordame Esto is expanding its custom embroidery business, fueling local growth and creating jobs in the San Luis Valley."

Bordame Esto LLC, is a quickly growing embroidery business in the San Luis Valley founded by Naillali Rodriguez in 2023. With six years of experience in customization, Naillali offers a diverse range of products, including custom-embroidered sweaters, shirts, hats, and jerseys. Leveraging her strong ties to the local softball community and her family's established roasted green chili stand at the farmers' market, she has quickly built a loyal clientele and plans to expand her offerings to include custom merchandise for small businesses.

With support from First Southwest Community Fund, Naillali is set to enhance her operations by purchasing additional embroidery machines and inventory. This investment not only positions Bordame Esto for additional growth but also strengthens the company’s role in the local economy by creating jobs and providing personalized services to the community.