(Picture from GTZ)

Here are a number of links to microcredit resources in the USA that I've been holding for a while, but wasn't sure what to do with. Often when we think of microfinance we automatically think third world, or at least I usually do. But there are some great things going on with microloans to those in need in developed countries as well. If any of these are in your area, you might want to check them out to see what they're doing. Better yet, notify your local newspaper that you think they should do a story on one of these groups.

*Sustainable Urban Neighbors out of the University of Louisville.

*The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions as a variety of microcredit schemes.

*From the National Child Care Information Center, a program for financing child care facilities through microcredit, a commercial lender public-sector partnership in Washington, D.C.

*Here's something in Virginia called the Small Business Development Center that provides microloans to small businesses. Also in Virginia is the Association for Enterprise Opportunity.

*MassDevelopment uses microcredit to help strengthen communities.

*The Economic Development Council of Northern Vermont has a microbusiness loan program.

*Here is one of the California Coastal Rural Development Corporation's newsletters in pdf. They have a microloan program also.

*Also from California, the City of Oakland has a microloan program. There's also one for the wider Bay Area.

*Further south in California is Imperial County Community and Economic Development.

*In Colorado, check out the Steamboat Springs Economic Development Council Micro Loan Program.

*Here's a story on how to tap into the U.S. government's SBA microloan programs.

*The Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation provides microloans and training to women starting small businesses.

*Count Me In is also another great microfinance organization specifically geared towards women.

*The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Clearinghouse on Entrepreneurial Education has a lot of good resources on microcredit institutions in the U.S.

*Accion USA is probably one of the better known microfinance institutions.

*In upstate New York, see the Cayuga County loan program.

*From Washington State comes the Cascadia Revolving Fund.

*The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has microloan programs.