South Eastern Economic Development

Name

South Eastern Economic Development

Legal name

South Eastern Economic Development Corporation

Website

https://seedcorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Lending

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)

akta.pro primary industry

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

SBA/USDA Government-Backed Loan Intermediation (FSAEAEAI), Development Finance, Guarantees & Blended Finance Programs (BPADABAM)

Keywords

• Small business lending
• SBA 504 loans
• Microloans
• Community development finance
• Gap financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Taunton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. SBA 504 Loan Interest Income: SEED generates revenue from interest on SBA 504 loans, where it provides up to 40% of the loan amount at below-market fixed rates for 20 or 25 years. SEED's portion of the loan is financed through SBA-issued debentures, with SEED earning interest on its 40% loan participation.
2. Micro and Small Loan Interest Income: SEED earns interest income on direct micro loans (up to $50,000) and small loans (up to $350,000) at fixed rates of 6-7%, with terms up to 7 years for micro loans and up to 10 years for small loans. These loans are made to startups and existing businesses not able to obtain conventional financing.
3. Fast Track Loan Interest Income: SEED generates interest income on Fast Track Loans up to $25,000 at a fixed 7% rate with terms up to 7 years. These loans offer quicker approval and closing timelines compared to standard micro/small loans.
4. SSBCI Loan Program Revenue: SEED was awarded $4.5 million from RI Commerce Corporation under the State Small Business Credit Initiative to on-lend to eligible RI small businesses at below-market rates with terms of 10, 20, and 25 years. SEED's maximum SSBCI loan is $500,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SEED Corporation is a nonprofit Certified Development Company (CDC) and SBA-approved lender that provides SBA 504 loans (up to $5.5 million), micro loans (up to $50,000), small loans (up to $350,000), and Fast Track loans (up to $25,000) to small businesses in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that cannot obtain conventional financing. It supplements its lending with free business technical assistance, workshops, and bank-partner co-financing arrangements.

Product overview

South Eastern Economic Development (SEED) Corporation is a nonprofit economic development organization offering a suite of small business financing products. The core offerings include SBA 504 Loans for commercial real estate and equipment (up to $5.5 million), Micro Loans (up to $50,000), Small Loans (up to $350,000), and Fast Track Loans (up to $25,000). These lending products are complemented by the Business Assistance Program, which provides free technical assistance, workshops, and business planning resources. SEED operates as a Certified Development Company (CDC) under the SBA 504 Program and serves small businesses in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SBA 504 Loans Long-term commercial real estate and capital equipment financing for SBA 504-eligible for-profit small businesses, structured as a 50/40/10 partnership between a bank, SEED (CDC), and the borrower.
• Micro Loans Direct loans up to $50,000 at 6-7% fixed rates for startup and existing businesses in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that cannot obtain conventional financing.
• Small Loans Direct loans up to $350,000 at 6-7% fixed rates with terms up to 10 years for working capital, leasehold improvements, inventory, business acquisitions, real estate, FF&E, and refinancing.
• Fast Track Loans Expedited micro loans up to $25,000 at 7% fixed with terms up to 7 years, designed for faster approval and closing timelines than standard micro loans.
• SSBCI Loan Program Loans up to $500,000 funded under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) for eligible Rhode Island small businesses headquartered in RI with fewer than 750 employees, structured with matching traditional bank or credit union financing.

Quantifiable outcome

• $436 million in loans over 40 years, creating 14,300+ jobs and leveraging $878 million in private investment.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers29 records

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NADCO (National Association of Development Companies) VetLoan AdvantageminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025SEED is a participating lender in NADCO's VetLoan Advantage program through the SBA 504 Program, designed to connect veteran entrepreneurs with SBA 504 financing for starting or expanding their small businesses.
• Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 July 2022SEED participates in CWE's Spanish-speaking micro lender panels and workshops, delivering information on business lending practices to Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs. CWE is a resource partner connecting SEED with women-owned and minority-owned small businesses.
• SCORE (MA and RI Chapters)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSCORE is a key resource partner referenced on SEED's website and in its programs. SEED works with SCORE to provide workshop content and refer prospective borrowers to SCORE's mentorship services. SCORE RI is represented on SEED's Board of Directors.
• Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MA SBDC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMA SBDC is a resource partner that provides business development support to small businesses and refers clients to SEED for financing.
• Rhode Island Small Business Development Center (RI SBDC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRI SBDC is a resource partner that provides business development support and refers clients to SEED for financing. Diane Fournaris from RI SBDC serves on SEED's Board of Directors.
• Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVBOC is a resource partner providing business assistance to veteran entrepreneurs. SEED is a participating lender in NADCO's VetLoan Advantage program through the SBA 504 Program, connecting veteran small business owners with SEED's financing.
• Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District (SRPEDD)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSRPEDD is a regional planning organization that facilitated the $3 million EDA ARPA grant to SEED by bringing together public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap for the region.
• Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMACDC is a resource partner listed on SEED's website, connecting SEED with community development organizations across Massachusetts.
• Dorchester Bay Economic Development CorporationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDorchester Bay EDC is a resource partner listed on SEED's website, connecting SEED with community development organizations in the Greater Boston area.
• Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMOBD is a state resource partner listed on SEED's website, providing business development resources to Massachusetts small businesses.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Coastal1 Credit Union: RI-based credit union (formerly Pawtucket Credit Union) that participates in SEED's lending ecosystem as both a bank partner and a former employer of SEED VP Tamarah Bacon. Directly comparable as a regional community-focused small business lender operating in the same RI/SE MA geography.

Direct peers

• Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC): Massachusetts state economic development lender that has awarded SEED $1.59M in cumulative grants and is one of SEED's primary funders. Directly comparable as a public-purpose small business lender offering loans and grants to underserved MA businesses.
• Bristol County Savings Bank: MA-based community bank that co-finances SBA 504 loans with SEED. Comparable as a community-oriented regional bank offering SBA 504 participation and small business lending in the same southeastern MA footprint.
• Accion: National nonprofit CDFI providing microloans and small business financing to underserved entrepreneurs. Directly comparable to SEED as a mission-driven micro/small loan provider with similar underwriting flexibility and below-market pricing.
• Grameen America: National nonprofit microlender serving low-income entrepreneurs, primarily women in immigrant communities. Directly comparable to SEED's microloan program in target population, loan size, and mission-driven model.
• Kiva: International nonprofit crowdfunding microlender providing 0% interest loans to underserved entrepreneurs. Comparable to SEED in serving capital-constrained small business borrowers, though Kiva operates a unique crowd-funded model.
• Justine PETERSEN Housing and Reinvestment Corporation: St. Louis-based nonprofit CDFI providing microloans and small business financing to underserved entrepreneurs. Comparable to SEED as a regionally focused CDFI lender with similar product mix and mission-driven underwriting.
• Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation: Greater Boston-based nonprofit community development corporation listed as a SEED resource partner. Comparable as a Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing small business financing and technical assistance to underserved entrepreneurs.
• LiftFund: Texas-headquartered national nonprofit CDFI providing microloans and small business financing to underserved entrepreneurs across multiple states. Comparable to SEED in product set, target borrower, and mission-driven small dollar lending.

Emerging players

• Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC): Statewide membership association of MA community development corporations, listed as a SEED resource partner. Comparable as a coordinating body for community development lenders operating in MA with overlapping member networks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SEEDCorporation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-eastern-economic-development-seed-corp.
• Xx.com/SEEDCorporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Eastern Economic Development