Fort Worth launches 0% Interest Buy-Down to support small businesses

Published on April 25, 2025

CDFI Friendly Fort Worth has partnered with LiftFund to launch a 0% Interest Buy-Down Program, making financing more affordable and reducing barriers for small business owners. The program is designed to empower Fort Worth's entrepreneurial community by providing up to $100,000 in interest-free loans to eligible businesses, helping to drive growth and create jobs.

What's new: The Interest Buy-Down Program is available to all for-profit small businesses located in or relocating within the Fort Worth city limits. The program aims to support businesses across a wide range of industries by offering flexible funding to cover startup costs, business expansion, staffing, inventory, equipment and day-to-day operations.

What they're saying: "Small businesses are at the heartbeat of our communities here in Fort Worth. They not only create jobs, but they offer economic stability and a better quality of life for the people who live here," said Glenn S. Forbes, executive director of CDFI Friendly Fort Worth. "By reducing the cost of borrowing, we can address financial disparities and help boost and create businesses in communities that have faced systemic lending challenges. Fort Worth is a city where small businesses can thrive, and this program is a direct investment in our local economy."

"This initiative reflects LiftFund's ongoing mission to provide affordable access to capital for small business owners," said Amy Hereford, president and CEO of LiftFund. "When we invest in small businesses, we're not just supporting individual entrepreneurs, but making a lasting impact in our communities. These businesses create meaningful jobs that allow families to thrive, generate tax revenue that supports local services and build wealth that stays in the neighborhood. But beyond the economic impact, small businesses foster connection, cultural vitality and a sense of place that defines who we are. Programs like this create ripple effects that span generations."

Go deeper: For more than three decades, LiftFund has helped small business owners across Texas secure over $7 million in interest-free loans through similar programs. The Fort Worth Interest Buy-Down Program builds on this success, ensuring that small businesses have the financial tools necessary to grow and succeed. Small business owners interested in applying for the 0% interest loans can learn more about eligibility requirements and the application process.

CDFI Friendly Fort Worth is an independent, not-for-profit organization that is community-centered, based on more than a year of conversations with community residents. The community-controlled board is comprised of Fort Worth residents working across different industries and sectors, who are all invested in the economic and social development of Fort Worth. CDFI Friendly Fort Worth exists solely to match local and national certified CDFI lenders to financing needs in Fort Worth.

LiftFund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empower small business owners through access to affordable capital and business support. For over 30 years, LiftFund has provided nearly $1 billion in loans to entrepreneurs across 15 states. LiftFund's programs and services help entrepreneurs build businesses that contribute to thriving local economies.

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• Business & Economy