DSELF

Acting under the umbrella of the DSA, the Downtown Stockton Enterprise Loan Fund (DSELF) is a non-profit, multi-bank community development corporation created to facilitate economic development in Stockton’s economically under-served central city. 

The DSELF achieves economic development through:

• Facilitating the growth of small to mid-sized businesses, and,
• Attracting, creating, and retaining new jobs.

The DSELF is intended to provide traditional and “gap” financing by providing small business loans to entrepreneurs who cannot obtain a complete package of conventional financing. 

Apply Today!

Download the initial application here.

Download the full DSELF application guide booklet here.

Read the following sections of this page to learn more about the DSELF and loan approval process.

Contact DSELF Administrator Courtney Wood, (209)888-8630, [email protected] for questions.

Loan Program Summary

• Loan amounts are $25,000 to $65,000.
• Interest rates are tied to market rates at Prime, as shown in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), plus two percent (2%).
• DSELF Administrator, Courtney Wood, is the initial point of contact for all individuals seeking a DSELF loan. Her contact information is (209)888-8630, [email protected].
• Background and financial information required from applicants is similar to the City of Stockton’s loan programs and the San Joaquin County Revolving Loan Fund. The DSELF’s business loan manager is Steve Lantsberger from the RLF. He provides loan analysis and recommendations to the DSELF Board of Directors.
• The DSELF Board of Directors, composed of a mix of commercial lenders, small business owners, and economic development professionals, meet on a monthly basis at the DSA offices to make DSELF decisions, and to declare final loan approval or denial.

Learn even more about DSELF in our blog article!

Eligibility

• As a general policy, the DSELF considers only desirable ventures for funding in the Downtown Stockton PBID area. Click here for map. 
• Loans are typically made to small businesses with growth potential that do not meet traditional lending criteria. Ideal recipients include:
  • Businesses with demonstrated growth potential needing loans for operating capital, tenant improvements, and expansion;
  • Building/property renovation for projects housing growing downtown businesses, and/or downtown living units on upper floors;
  • Start-up businesses providing a needed product or service with a high propensity for success in downtown. 
• While not excluding start-ups and other higher risk ventures, DSELF recognizes that the risk inherent in such projects warrants special scrutiny.
• Not-for-profit organizations are not eligible for loans from the DSELF.

Loan Application and Approval Process

The DSELF four-part approval process is outline below:

1. Pre-Qualification, which entails the initial application and non-refundable $200 fee, credit score check, executive summary, and interview with the DSELF Administrator
2. Pre-Approval, which involves the submittal of 19 items outlined in the pre-approval checklist.
3. DSELF Board Interview
4. DSELF Board Vote

Specific requirements for each step are outlined in the full DSELF application guide. The applicant will work primarily with the DSELF Administrator to ensure all materials are submitted and steps are completed.

Length of approval process varies in accordance with the amount of time an applicant takes to generate and submit all materials to the DSELF Administrator.

Past DSELF Recipients

Juice It Up!

Chitiva’s Salsa Bar

Deliberation Room

J. Rusten Furniture Studio

The Campus Downtown