The ACCESS Community Capital Fund

The ACCESS Community Capital Fund, a Canadian Registered Charity, is a Community Loan Fund that helps small and emerging businesses in Toronto (Ontario, Canada) to meet their need for credit by securing initial loans of up to $5000. By granting small loans to local entrepreneurs, the ACCESS Community Capital Fund is contributing to the community as a whole -- helping more people to become self-sufficient through self-employment.

ACCESS Community Capital Fund was formed to help promising entrepreneurs with viable business plans gain access to financing not available through other sources. Individual loans are made using a character based lending decision, where the abilities, skills and commitment of the applicant in conjunction with the strength of the business plan are key decision criteria. Using a 'step-lending' approach, ACCESS provides a series of loans that increase in size as the business grows in the community.

ACCESS funds are used to guarantee loans through Alterna Savings. The fund was created by investments from socially minded individuals, organizations and businesses.

ACCESS clients are typically entrepreneurs who have been running a business less than two years and or just starting a new business. The borrower may have no credit history, or may have a poor credit record due to unemployment, illness or unforeseen life events.

To date ACCESS has granted loans to and shared business expertise with small businesses in the east Toronto, Ontario area.

About our New Name

Formerly known as Access Riverdale, Access Community Capital Fund is proud to launch its new name and a bigger vision. With a mandate to expand across the greater Toronto area, we have the same commitment to community that resulted in over $400,000 in loans to small businesses in the last nine years.