About the Fund
A local front door to professional-grade capital.
Our mission
The Cleveland Commercial & Economic Development Fund was created to help established Northeast Ohio companies access the capital they need to grow, stabilize, and stay rooted in the region.
Businesses with $3 million or more in annual sales sit in a difficult spot: too large for small-business lending programs, yet frequently underserved by national banks. The Fund gives these owners a single, trusted starting point — a structured review of their capital needs and access to a broad network of lenders competing for their business.
Delivered with Capital Desk
The Fund’s programs are delivered in partnership with Capital Desk, a middle-market financing firm with more than $1.7 billion in career transaction volume and relationships with over 60 lenders. Capital Desk structures each request, runs the lender process, and guides owners through closing.
The Fund is privately operated. It is not a government agency and does not administer public grants or government loan programs.
Guiding principles
01
Local first
We focus on Northeast Ohio and understand the industries, seasonality, and lending landscape that shape businesses here.
02
Structure before product
We start with your balance sheet and cash flow, then design the financing. The product follows the structure — not the other way around.
03
Competitive by design
Every request is presented to lenders with real appetite for the deal, so owners see competing terms instead of a single answer.
04
Aligned incentives
No cost to inquire, success-based fees agreed in writing, and a partner that co-invests in the transactions it sources.
Now reviewing inquiries for the Q1 2027 Cohort.
No cost, no credit check, and no obligation. Our credit committee reviews every inquiry and contacts businesses that may be a fit to discuss eligibility.