Mountain Association
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersBerea, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Mountain Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mountain Association
- Legal name
- Mountain Association for Community Economic Development
- Website
- https://mtassociation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mountain Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Financial Services
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)
Keywords
Where Mountain Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berea
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Mountain Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Loan Interest Income: Mountain Association generates revenue primarily through interest on business loans ranging from $1,000 to over $1 million. Interest rates typically range from 5% to 9.75% for general loans, with specialized rates for solar (4% fixed), energy efficiency (5%), emergency loans (3%), and disaster recovery loans (0-3.75%). The organization functions as a CDFI and nonprofit lender providing flexible financing to businesses and organizations underserved by traditional banks.
- Program Services Revenue: Revenue from providing business support services, energy assessments, and technical assistance. While many services are free (energy assessments, business coaching inquiries), administrative closing fees on loans (2% for loans $50,000 or less, 1.5% for loans over $50,000) and fees for additional services like UCC filings, mortgage filings, and appraisals contribute to operational revenue.
- Federal Program Administration: The organization administers USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants for clients, packaging over 60 grants totaling over $2.5 million since 2009. While REAP grants go to clients, the organization earns fees for grant application support services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard Business Loans |
| Subscription | Monthly | Solar Loans |
| Subscription | Monthly | Energy Efficiency Loans |
| Subscription | Monthly | Emergency Loans |
| Subscription | Monthly | Disaster Recovery Loans |
| Subscription | Monthly | Nonprofit Loans |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | CrowdMatch Loans |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Mountain Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mountain Association is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) providing flexible business loans ($1,000 to over $1 million) to small businesses, nonprofits, and local governments in Eastern Kentucky that cannot qualify for traditional bank financing. The organization complements its lending portfolio with free business coaching and training services, free energy assessments and consultations, and place-based community development support across 54 Appalachian Kentucky counties.
Product overview
The Mountain Association is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) offering a portfolio of interconnected financial products and services for Eastern Kentucky. The core offerings include flexible business lending (ranging from $1,000 to over $1 million) and specialized financing products including Solar Loans (4% fixed, 20-year terms), Energy Savings Microloans (5%, up to $50,000), Emergency Loans, Disaster Recovery Loans, Nonprofit Loans, and CrowdMatch Loans. These are complemented by free support services: the Business Support program providing coaching and training, the Initiate online resource platform for self-guided tools, and the Energy Program offering free assessments and consultations. The How$mart Kentucky sub-brand delivers residential efficiency programs through rural cooperatives, while the New Energy Internship trained contractors in renewable energy. The 479 Main Street Project represents the organization's first real estate development initiative.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Business Lending
- Solar Loans
- Energy Savings Microloan
- Emergency Loans
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $22 million in current loan portfolio invested in Appalachian businesses
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Mountain Association
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mountain Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Mountain Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core affiliate, core partnership, key community partner, key partner and vendor partner.
- Kentucky Natural Lands Trustcore affiliateKNLT was founded as a MACED program in the early 1990s to protect old growth forest in Harlan County and critical land in Kentucky. It later became a stand-alone affiliate. Mountain Association continues to provide back-office support today.
- Kentucky Center for Economic Policy (Ky Policy)core affiliateMACED formally launched Ky Policy in 2011 to do research and advocacy on state budget and policy challenges. In 2020, Ky Policy became an affiliate of Mountain Association. Mountain Association continues to provide back-office support.
- Central Appalachian Networkcore partnershipMountain Association is a founding member and partner of the Central Appalachian Network, a regional network working on sustainable development in Central Appalachia.
- What's Next EKY?!core partnershipMountain Association is a founding member and partner of What's Next EKY?! Network, a grassroots network of community and regional partners working to build collaboration across Eastern Kentucky.
- InVision Hazardkey community partnerCitizen-led coalition focused on revitalizing Hazard's downtown and giving voice to local residents' visions for the future. Founded with Mountain Association support in 2014. Led much of Hazard's revitalization work including downtown development coordination.
- Rural Electric Cooperativeskey partnerMountain Association partners with rural electric cooperatives to deliver the How$mart Kentucky residential energy savings program through inclusive utility investment Pay-As-You-Save model. The program has created over $2.2 million in retrofits.
- Foundation for Appalachian Kentuckykey partnerNonprofit community foundation based in Hazard. Mountain Association's Hazard office is currently located within their building. Partnership allows for concentrated philanthropic investment in the community and more local engagement.
- Deco Architectsvendor partnerAward-winning architecture firm based in Somerset, Kentucky selected to design the 479 Main Street building redevelopment in Hazard. Firm is known for historic building remodels including the Virginia Theater renovation.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Mountain Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TruFund Financial Services: National CDFI providing flexible small business loans and capacity-building services to underserved communities; comparable in nonprofit lending model, focus on borrowers unable to access traditional bank credit, and mission-driven approach.
- Inclusive Prosperity Capital: CDFI focused on clean energy and energy efficiency financing for underserved communities and small businesses; directly comparable in offering specialized energy loans and leveraging public-private capital for clean energy projects.
- Fahe (Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises): Appalachian CDFI network providing lending and housing finance across 13 states including Kentucky; comparable in offering flexible capital to underserved rural borrowers and operating as a community development intermediary.
- Hope Credit Union: CDFI credit union serving the Deep South with a focus on financial services for low-income and underserved communities; comparable in mission-driven lending model targeting borrowers outside the traditional banking system.
- Appalachian Community Capital: CDFI-focused loan consortium and small business investment company operating across Appalachia with a comparable mission of providing flexible capital to underserved Appalachian businesses and communities.
- Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation: Long-standing Kentucky-based CDFI providing small business loans and community development financing in Appalachian and rural Kentucky counties—direct overlap in service area, customer base, and product offering.
Broad incumbents
- Self-Help Credit Union: CDFI-credentialed credit union providing responsible lending products and community development services to underserved borrowers nationwide; comparable in mission alignment and CDFI status, though operates at significantly larger scale.
Others
- Opportunity Finance Network: National CDFI industry association providing capital, policy advocacy, and capacity-building support to a network of ~1,400 CDFIs including Mountain Association itself; comparable as the industry infrastructure that channels federal CDFI Fund dollars to members.
Regional players
- Southeast Kentucky Economic Development (SKED): Regional economic development entity serving Southeastern Kentucky with small business lending and community development services; directly comparable in geography, customer base, and core product set.
Emerging players
- Rural Action: Appalachian-focused community development organization delivering programs across sustainable agriculture, energy, and community resilience; comparable in serving Eastern Kentucky with mission-aligned community economic development programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mountain Association social profiles
Digital presenceMountain Association compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Mountain Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mountain Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Mountain Association subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Mountain Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mountain Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mountain Association
What does Mountain Association do?
Mountain Association is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) providing flexible business loans ($1,000 to over $1 million) to small businesses, nonprofits, and local governments in Eastern Kentucky that cannot qualify for traditional bank financing. The organization complements its lending portfolio with free business coaching and training services, free energy assessments and consultations, and place-based community development support across 54 Appalachian Kentucky counties.
Is Mountain Association a public or private company?
Mountain Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Mountain Association founded?
Mountain Association was founded in 1976. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Mountain Association based?
Mountain Association is headquartered in Berea, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mountain Association make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Loan Interest Income is the primary driver. The others are program Services Revenue and federal Program Administration.
Who are Mountain Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TruFund Financial Services, Inclusive Prosperity Capital, Fahe (Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises), Hope Credit Union, Appalachian Community Capital and Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation. Self-Help Credit Union is listed as a broad incumbent. Opportunity Finance Network is listed as an others. Southeast Kentucky Economic Development (SKED) is listed as a regional player. Rural Action is listed as an emerging player.
Does Mountain Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mountain Association.
What industry is Mountain Association in?
Mountain Association's product category is Community Development Financial Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAC, Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts). Its NAICS code is 813410 and its SIC code is 6159.