We have provided financing to help people like you to grow their businesses and create jobs for the region. Click on the business categories below to learn what people are saying about us.
- All Testimonials
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- Wine, Beer & Spirits
Sandfly Brewing, LLC
It was just so much of an easier process because The Progress Fund has funded breweries like this and knows the process that we needed to go through. It’s not like you’re trying to tell a banker, who has probably never been to a brewery, why this is a good idea.
CrossFit Indiana
It’s been nice to go through this process and build a team of people that believe in my project and believe in what I’m doing.
Getaway Café
I could’ve shopped around and I would have had to spend a lot of time, but my relationship with The Progress Fund was super-simple and the project was right up their alley in terms of repurposing a building with history.
Big Spring Spirits
We knew what we wanted to buy, so we had the information that was needed so that The Progress Fund could do their evaluation. That was really a good process from my end. It was a quick and smooth process.
ASCEND – Point Breeze
We’ve had such a good, strong relationship with The Progress Fund and Enterprise Bank. Our first call was to our partners, the people who have helped us to achieve our vision and our goals. We’ve had numerous conversations with the team at The Progress Fund, ensuring that everybody was on the same page.
LaJose Hotel, LLC
They were easy to talk to, easy to get along with, nice people–very encouraging and supportive of us moving forward. If we would need anything or have questions about anything, all we’d need to do is pick up the phone and call.
Kentuck Knob Visitor Center
You were such a lifeline during the early months of the pandemic, and I don’t know what we would’ve done if you hadn’t helped us navigate the PPP Loan system.
Mom’s Wholesale Foods
We had talks with other banks, but ultimately The Progress Fund was able to give us a good deal. We felt comfortable in that relationship, knowing that it’s genuinely a partnership, and not strictly business.
Cady Hollow Campground
Every time I sent an email or asked a question, within minutes or hours—but definitely the same day—The Progress Fund got back to us.
Firewhistle Brewing, LLC
The Progress Fund has been really instrumental in not only getting me through this loan process, but looking at my financials, looking at my numbers, looking at my business plan. That has been integral to my confidence as a business person.
Ice Castle Arena
It was seamless, for the most part. The Progress Fund has been a supporter since day one. They’ve been superstars for us…They really understand it. They know it’s a good business.
Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream
We found The Progress Fund to be incredibly responsive and helpful throughout the application process. They made it as easy as possible for us to put together the materials they needed.
The Tandem Connection
The Progress Fund got it. They understood what we want to accomplish, and they understood the potential of what this is going to be. … They’ve been incredibly supportive.
Log Cabin Lodge & Suites
They’ve been a major part of providing that entrepreneurial funding that’s more than just lending on a piece of real estate. I think that The Progress Fund does a lot to bridge that void. Everybody’s been very approachable and very easy to talk to.
Appalachian Arts Studio and Museum
I’ve always struggled to make my loan payments. The Progress Fund always believed in me and encouraged me even during down times in my business, helping me to get through them. And now I’m paying off my loan. The Progress Fund is awesome and has proven to me that, when someone believes in you, you can do anything.
Stage Right!
They knew what I was going through. They knew how tough it is. They weren’t making it tougher. The Progress Fund made it pretty easy.
God’s Country Paradise Park
The Progress Fund was very helpful with a caring attitude for our success.
Emerald Valley Artisans
The Progress Fund did more than just lend us money…they joined with us in the creative belief that we could actually make things better. Ultimately we did. That is the power of relationships.
Huntingdon Farm
The Progress Fund was very accommodating, straightforward, and pleasant.
Horn O Plenty
I did check with a bank. At the same time, I had heard of The Progress Fund. They’re a small organization. They’re easy to work with. It just made sense. It wasn’t big and institutionalized like the banks.
Horn Farm
I just didn’t believe the help that [The Progress Fund] gave us. If they didn’t, we would probably be a year or two behind. … We just keep going back to them.
Rick Walker Farms
Very easy. It was no problem at all there. I’m getting the money as I need it. That’s been very helpful.
Private: North Fork Golf Course & Tennis Club
No matter what my plans were, or what I wanted to do, none of this would’ve happened without The Progress Fund. They were my last shot. If they would’ve said no, I was done. Karen Post was so energetic and so excited about it, it got me more excited about.
Confluence Cyclery
When we were renovating an old building and opening our bicycle shop, The Progress Fund was exceptionally helpful. They provided advice and access to business development loans that we were not aware of. They were friendly and dedicated to helping us be successful.
Performance Kayak
I know some of the other businesses in town that had used The Progress Fund. I knew they worked to see businesses grow and be successful and overall what that good work was doing for the town. That’s why we reached out to The Progress Fund when we wanted to put up a new building and buy more inventory.
Hazelbaker’s Bottom Yough Outfitters
Though we’re doing business together, it doesn’t feel like ‘business’–feels more like good people helping each other out.
The White Rabbit Café and Patisserie
I like what The Progress Fund does. No bank would even consider giving us a loan without collateral. It’s nice that there’s somebody out there trying to help non-traditional lendees.
Silver Shores Restaurant
We looked around a little bit for financing, even though we’ve had a long relationship with The Progress Fund. They were able to be flexible with their rates in order to make it work for us.
The Eastwood Inn
As soon as [the loan officer] came here, things came together pretty quickly for me. The Progress Fund realized that there was a real opportunity here.
Bittersweet Café
They’re not in it for money. They’re in it to promote tourism in southwestern Pennsylvania. The loan officer I worked with is just so personable. He brought it all down to earth. He was a very calming influence through every kind of storm.
Domestic
You have changed my life’s trajectory and I know you have done the same for so many others who just needed to be given the chance to fulfill their potential. Thank you so much for the opportunity you have given me.
Driscoll & Sons Cafe
It was like any other loan process. There was a lot of leg work involved. But the representative of The Progress Fund helped me every step of the way.
The Trailside Café
When nobody else out there would lend me the money, The Progress Fund stepped up. Basically, they got it. …now I’m where I wanted to be. Our business plan is completed.
Homemade Memories…Bakery
After I got with The Progress Fund, everything just kept on rolling.
LIFeSTYLE – Living Italian Food e Style
We celebrated our agreement over a bottle of wine and some cheese in our home a couple of weeks later.
The Italian Oven
The Progress Fund was exceptionally good to work with. The people I’ve dealt with have been cordial, cooperative, and knowledgeable.
Off the RAK
Outstanding. Very easy, very reasonable. They just made my life a lot easier, relieving me of that part of the stress.
Tuff’s Smokin’ Grill
I was able to get a great interest rate and the amount of money that I felt like I needed to start the project without having to jump through 10,000 hoops like some other financial institutions require.
Phoenix Restaurant
When I couldn’t get a loan, a friend of mine who is in the real estate business told me about The Progress Fund. A lot of the loans that they gave out were in the restaurant business. I put a business plan together, and then got it back to them, and it really wasn’t very difficult with The Progress Fund.
Enrico Biscotti
You guys were awesome. Are you kidding? You could not have been more helpful, You really walked us through the process and were responsive to our needs and our questions.
Hungry Hank’s Pizzeria
I was really happy with The Progress Fund — just the ease of everything. We didn’t have to jump through all of the hoops like you have to do with a bank.
Fox’s Pizza Den
The whole process was very, very easy. It flowed right through.
Falls City Pub
I saw an opportunity to serve 1.5 million tourists that are hungry and thirsty after a day on the river or trails. When I went for a loan, commercial banks got bogged down in their own bureaucracy. The Progress fund was actually able to move faster.
South Side Traveler’s Rest
They streamline the whole process, but even more so, they’ve developed a process by which they can help us beyond just a loan.
9 Decatur Guest House and Hostel
I was surprised how simple it was. How they’ve been helpful is through their level of encouragement. They’re very reachable, very approachable. They’re there to help you,
The Confluence Resort
From the time I contacted them and identified the project and they came down and expressed interest, we moved to a commitment very quickly.
Cobblestone Hotel and Suites – Connellsville
The Progress Fund really understood what we were doing. They got it. … You need to present something that’s realistic to them. You’ve got to do your homework. And the process, I think, was informative to us as well.
Bright Morning Bed & Breakfast
There were times when we shopped for credit and ran out of money. We were scraping. I feel very protected now. That’s not going to happen.
Immersion Research
It’s so hard to get a loan on a building since the mortgage crisis. We went straight to The Progress Fund. They were really easy to work with. They don’t require some of the things that banks require these day.
Crick General Store
There isn’t a bank out there that would meet you beside a creek. That really impressed us. It wasn’t just a numbers thing. You actually saw the potential of what we were looking at.
Wendell August Forge
A great group to help us meet our needs for funding. We couldn’t have done the project without Enterprise Bank, The Progress Fund and the governor.
River’s Edge Camping & Cabins
Having a choice, we wanted to work with The Progress Fund. We believe in what they do.
Brookline Teen Outreach
“I felt it was a very smooth process. It’s very similar to a traditional mortgage, the same paperwork. But I’d say it was much friendlier. … My phone calls would be answered, if not within minutes, within hours.”
Stone Valley Pet Lodge
If it wasn’t for The Progress Fund, I wouldn’t have been able to build the Pet Lodge.
CJ Spirits
The Progress Fund “came highly recommended. The process was pretty seamless. There weren’t any major hurdles
Ridge Runner Distillery
Everyone I talked to has been so supportive of everything. I feel like there’s a lot more flexibility with The Progress Fund than there would be with a lot of lenders. I can call someone up there and if I have a problem I can talk to a person who has an understanding of what’s going on. … It feels like a very personal relationship
Butler Brew Works
We’re extremely happy to be working with The Progress Fund. We appreciate that they’re willing to believe in what we’re doing and believe that we can be successful with this. If they hadn’t given us the opportunity, I don’t know where we’d be right now.
Christian W. Klay Winery
I found it to be extremely easy to work with The Progress Fund to determine what my goals were, and to finance them.
Flickerwood Wine Cellars
The financing package was like “an angel came down from the sky.’
Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries
The Progress Fund “made it happen very smoothly and efficiently, no question about it.
American Mug & Stein Co.
The Progress Fund guys were very professional, came in and did their jobs. [The Progress Fund] said, ‘You know what you need, you know what it’s going to do,’ and they made the loan.
The I&C Conerail Caboose
We had an ice cream stand years ago and when we found a caboose that was equipped as an ice cream stand, we had to have it.
Abjuration Brewing LLC
Essentially, we got more capital and we’re paying less, so that’s pretty much a no-brainer. We upgraded our system and we’re going to be able to make more beer. And we have less to pay back on it a month. That means more money that will put us toward more growth, which is what we want.
Bent Run Brewing Co.
I had never gone through a proper business plan…So there were a lot of educational hoops that I had to learn and figure out in a quick manner. But they helped me through it. It was a big pain in the butt, but I understand and appreciate the process.
Straub Brewery Inc.
The Progress Fund’s process was streamlined yet very professional and substantive. They also truly became an advisor to us, advising us on the substance of the project and encouraging us. They put their money where their mouth was, starting with David’s encouragement and guidance.”
Velum Fermentation
I am not a business guy. But I rose to the occasion because I had to. From the actual experience of applying, it was smooth and well thought out.
Voodoo Brewing Company, Inc.
We have banking relationships, but we were looking for somebody who was more community minded and was passionate about the projects. I was able to be kind of creative and you were easy to work with and communicate with.
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