CSBDF Receives $300,000 Grant from Wells Fargo to Advance Statewide Technical Assistance Programs, Municipal Partnerships
RALEIGH, N.C. – June 5, 2026 – Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF) has received a $300,000 grant from Wells Fargo to support the advancement of the organization's statewide technical assistance programs and municipal partnerships.
“We are grateful to Wells Fargo for their generous support of CSBDF and belief in our mission to light the way for North Carolina’s entrepreneurs,” said CSBDF President & CEO Kevin Dick. “We have had a productive long-stemming relationship with Wells Fargo to help administer both capital and vital small business technical assistance tools and resources into our state’s ecosystem, and we are excited to continue that partnership with this grant.”
CSBDF is a statewide, nonprofit community and economic development organization that lends and provides coaching to small businesses. CSBDF also researches the impacts of small businesses on the State economy and shares its findings with key stakeholders. The organization has been certified by the U.S. Department of Treasury as a certified community development financial institution (CDFI) since 2013. Its mission is to foster economic development in underserved communities. Wells Fargo’s investment will assist in CSBDF’s operational expenses as the organization continues this work.
In addition to its core offerings, CSBDF partners with local municipalities and governments to create access to capital programs to help bring small business funding and technical assistance to entrepreneurs across North Carolina. CSBDF has established municipal programs in multiple areas of North Carolina including the Durham LIT program in partnership with the City of Durham, the Guilford GAINS program in collaboration with Guilford County, and the Alamance Chamber of Commerce Momentum Program in collaboration with the Alamance County Economic Development Foundation.
Additionally, CSBDF offers personalized, online technical assistance to North Carolina's small business owners through its Vivid Digital Classroom. Vivid offers more than 180 free courses taught by industry experts, with courses available in both English and Spanish.
This grant from Wells Fargo allows CSBDF to continue delivering high-quality capital and coaching to North Carolina's entrepreneurs, both through its traditional lending offerings and by supporting the organization as it pursues municipal and other types of public sector partnerships. Wells Fargo resources will also help CSBDF to create quality, informative, exciting events and promote its programs and services.
For more information about CSBDF, visit carolinasmallbusiness.org.
About Carolina Small Business Development Fund (CSBDF)
Founded in 1990, Carolina Small Business Development Fund is a nonprofit and U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that fosters economic development in underserved communities through access to capital, technical assistance, and policy research to light the way for small businesses. Since 2010, CSBDF has contributed more than $133 million through more than 3,390 loans and grants to dedicated small businesses across North Carolina, helping to create or retain more than 6,150 full-time jobs.
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES
Alec Sawyer
Marketing & Communications Manager, CSBDF
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