Lending Board

ARDA/ADC Lending Board

The Southern Georgia Regional Commission has two non-profit corporations to administer the loan programs. The Southern Georgia Area Resource Development Agency, Inc. (ARDA) administers the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) made up of Economic Development Administration funds and Rural Development funds. The Southern Georgia Area Development Corporation (ADC) administers the Small Business Administration 504 loan program. The ADC and ARDA are governed by the same membership. They are a mirror image of one another. The board has eighteen members appointed by the Southern Georgia Regional Commission from the eighteen county area. The SBA, EDA and RD agencies have set certain requirements for membership on the loan board. Members must represent financial institutions, the community, government or the private sector. The loan board meets once a month, or as needed.

Southern Georgia Area Resource Development Agency, Inc. (ARDA)

•Non-Profit incorporated by the SGRC in 1979 to establish an EDA Revolving Loan Fund.

•EDA Grant awarded for $1,000,000

•Second EDA award made in 1992 for $300,000

•First recipient of Rural Development’s Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) in the Nation in 1990. Funds are lent to ARDA by Rural Development for 30 years at 1%

•Total of four IRP Loans have been awarded to ARDA: IRP I $750,000, IRP II $1,250,000, IRP III $400,000, IRP IV $500,000 over the years. Total amount: $2,900,000

•Rural Development Industrial Development Grants awards totaling $269,300

Southern Georgia Area Development Corporation (ADC)

•Designated by the Small Business Administration in 1983 as a Certified Development Corporation to make SBA 504 Loans

•The ADC contracts for staff with the Regional Commission through a Management Contract

•The ADC was made eligible to make loans statewide in 2002.

The ARDA/CDC loan board is diligent in its administration of all of the SGRC's loan programs. Their focus is local economic development and improving the economic condition of both individuals and their communities. The fact that the loan program is administered locally is one of its strongest attributes. The economic development needs of the Southern Georgia region are best known by those who work daily in the region.