Using Our Site

Subscribe

On-Demand Training

Resources

Find a Lender

Small Business  Agriculture

Frequently Asked Questions for Lenders: Eligible Businesses

• What types of businesses qualify?
• My customers are currently in farming. Do they qualify?
• Are cooperatives and nonprofit organizations eligible?

Other Lender Questions

Eligible Use of Loan Proceeds
Underwriting
Servicing Responsibilities

What types of businesses qualify? 

The business must start with a Wisconsin grown, raw agricultural commodity and then do one of the following:

1. Create or expand production of a product that will increase the use of a raw agricultural commodity;
   
   Example: A cheese manufacturer creating a new cheese flavor.
   
   
2. Enhance the efficiency of the business.
   
   Example: A cheese manufacturer that purchases equipment to chill whey which allows it to be sold at a higher price than unchilled whey.

The business must also:

• Demonstrate it has made a notable effort to purchase a substantial percentage of its raw agricultural commodities from Wisconsin suppliers; and
• Be located in a Wisconsin municipality having a population of 50,000 or less.

My customers are currently in farming. Do they qualify? 

No, businesses involved in direct production of agricultural commodities are not eligible. We do have three agricultural products targeted to farmers; one could work for you. These are the CROP, FARM and Beginning Farmer Bond products. Click here to go to WHEDA's Agricultural products.

Are cooperatives and non-profit organizations eligible? 

Yes, as well as sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations.