COMPANY PROFILE

Capital Access Project (CAP) is an entrepreneur and economic development program founded in October 2001.  Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, CAP is a 501(c)3 non-profit created to promote the growth, expansion, and economic prosperity of businesses in the New Orleans metropolitan area. 

OUR MISSION

Capital Access Project is dedicated to supporting the creation of competitively viable small, disadvantaged, minority- and women-owned firms through business development assistance by identifying, qualifying and matching those firms with public and private sector resources to start or expand their businesses, create jobs and create an economic impact that would otherwise not exist in New Orleans.

OUR VISION

Our vision is to be a national model for successful entrepreneur and economic development programs.

WHY CAP?

A study by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors examining the credit market experince of small business owners revealed:

1. Within the past three years, majority-owned firms that applied for loans had a 74% approval rate versus 49% for miniority-owned firms.
2. On their most recent small business loan application, 84% of majority-owned firms were approved versus 62% of minority-owned firms.

Though minority-owned firms are growing six times the rate of all U.S. firms**, and their sales are growing more than twice the rate of all U.S. firms**, they remain severly constrained by a lack of access to capital.

The solution to bridging the credit market access gap is to provide small, disadvantaged, and minority-owned firms with the management, technical and financial assistance necessary to help them overcome traditional barriers to small business loan approvals (personal/business credit ratings, lack of adequate collateral, lack of a viable business plan, etc.).

Capital Access Project does its part to solve the systemic, social and economic issues that prevent entrepreneurs from becoming successful through our dedication to our mission and vision, and through our programs and services.

 *(K. Cavalluzo, L. Cavalluzo and J. Wolken, "Competition, Small Business Financing and Dsicrimination: Evidence from a New Survey," 02/99)

**(G. Yago and A. Pankrantz, "Democratizing Capital for Emerging Domestic Markets," U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency- Milken Institute, 09/00)

Learn more about CAP- Download our brochure now.

OUR PARTNERS

U.S. Small Business Administration (Louisiana District Office) www.sba.gov/la

Newcorp Business Assistance Center www.newcorpbac.net

Good Work Network www.goodworknetwork.org

HOPE Community Credit Union www.hopecu.org

Louisiana Minority Business Council www.lambc.org

Start Smart, L.L.C. www.start-smart.net

NetWorld Financial Internet Investment Advisor www.networldfinancial.com

New Orleans Chapter of the National Black MBA Assicoation www.nbmbaa.org

Mayor's Office of Planning & Development, City of New Orleans www.cityofno.com