Fort Worth Launches New 0% Interest Buy-Down Program to Support Small Business Growth

CDFI Friendly Fort Worth teams up with LiftFund for loans up to $100k

FORT WORTH, TX (April 10, 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. 

"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.” 

The Interest Buy-Down Program is available to all for-profit small businesses located in or relocating to 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. 

"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 – we’re 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."

“Fort Worth is a city where small businesses can thrive, and this program is a direct investment in our local economy,” added Forbes. 

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 by visiting LiftFund.com/FtWorth-Zero-Loan.