2. Change Policy
  3. View Policy Efforts by...
  4. States
  5. Colorado
  6. ​​​​​​​Colorado Enterprise Fund

​​​​​​​Colorado Enterprise Fund

Founded in 1976, The Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF) provides loans up to $500,000 to finance small businesses and start-ups unable to secure funding through traditional banks. With a mission to accelerate community prosperity by financing and supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, CEF has provided over $75 million in loans to almost 2,300 businesses to help create or retain over 19,000 jobs in the state. A nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), CEF is based in Denver with a satellite office in Fort Collins. CEF's lending and consulting services are available statewide.

CEF is a partner in The Colorado Fresh Food Financing Fund (CO4F) and is using its HFFI grant to finance food production, small grocery retail, and innovative healthy food businesses, including farmers markets, bodegas, food carts, and produce stands. Colorado Enterprise Fund has dispersed over $3.5 million in HFFI funds to 45 food businesses since 2013. This has helped to increase food access in both urban and rural parts of the state and to strengthen the local food system. Their loans are put toward equipment purchases, energy efficiency improvements, and leasehold improvements. CEF lends to all segments of the food system to foster healthy food access and economic development. Here are several examples of the work CEF has financed in Colorado:

HFFI Projects and Impacts

  • Crunchy Grocer, Loveland, urban
    • 7,620 sq. ft. food retail space created
    • New grocery store created
  • New Discount Store, Aurora, urban
    • 2,300 sq. ft. food retail space created
    • New grocery store serving Somalian and Ethiopian communities
  • Fairfax Market, Denver, urban
    • 14,000 sq. ft. food retail space preserved
    • Existing corner store expanding sale of healthy food in low-food-access area
  • The Kitchen Pantry, Canon City, urban
    • 180 sq. ft. additional food retail space created for a total of 630 sq. ft. food retail space
    • New fresh produce retail space in existing commercial kitchen in downtown
  • Hardin's Natural Foods, Hotchkiss, rural
    • 1,500 sq. ft. food retail space preserved
    • Existing rural, natural foods store, provides a low-cost buying club option for community
  • Fort Market, Fort Garland, rural
    • 4,500 sq. ft. food retail space preserved
    • Existing store, working to upgrade inefficient equipment and refresh old store interior/exterior,
    • Located in a food desert in a county with persistent poverty
  • Dia International Market, Aurora
    • 1,168 sq. ft. food retail space expanded
    • Existing African market expanding fresh food and meat offerings to immigrant community
  • Max Market, Denver, urban
    • 2,800 sq. ft. food retail space created
    • New store created in a low-food-access area
    • Partnership with Colorado Fresh Food Financing Fund
  • Franko's Food Mart, Denver, urban
    • 4,000 sq. ft. food retail space created
    • Existing superette switching ownership and expanding healthy food options
    • Partnership with City of Denver Office of Economic Development and Colorado Fresh Food Financing Fund
  • The Local Butcher, Denver, urban
    • 488 sq. ft. butcher shop created
    • Expanding access to fresh, local meat as part of a larger indoor market
  • Aladdin Market, Aurora, urban
    • 3,500 sq. ft. food retail space expanded
    • Existing African market expanding fresh food and meat offerings to immigrant community
  • Appleooz – Crunchy Apple Chipz, Boulder, urban
    • Value-added food product
    • Makes healthy dehydrated apple snacks that are becoming part of school lunches and snacks in Boulder County
  • Save-A-Lot, Denver, urban
    • 26,000 sq. ft. food retail created
    • First grocery store in 3 years in Montbello neighborhood. Includes community room and teaching kitchen
  • Asian American Market, Aurora, urban
    • 2,600 sq. ft. food retail space created
    • New market serving Thai and Burmese products for surrounding community
  • Valley Food Co-op, Alamosa, rural
    • 700 sq. ft. food retail space preserved
    • Co-op providing local and healthier options for community
  • Re:Vision, Denver, urban
    • Local non-profit incubating a community-owned grocery store in a food desert
  • LoCo Food Distribution, Fort Collins, urban
    • Distributor of Colorado grown and processed food to grocery stores and institutions along the Front Range

Source of money: HFFI CDFI-Financial Assistance Program; Fiscal year(s): 2012, 2013, 2016
Fiscal Year 2012, $750,000, Fiscal Year 2013, $800,000, Fiscal Year 2016, $650,000