UCEDC

What UCEDC does

UCEDC (legally Union County Economic Development Corp.) is a private, non-profit economic development corporation founded in 1977 and headquartered in Cranford, New Jersey, with a second South Jersey office in Mt. Holly. It is a U.S. Department of the Treasury-designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and an authorized SBA lender. The organization operates three integrated service lines for small businesses: (1) Lending — microloans up to $50,000 and SBA 504 commercial real estate and major equipment loans up to $5.5 million (with potential projects up to $20 million via bank participation); (2) Training — free workshops, the 8-week Virtual Incubator Program (VIP) offering instructor-led training plus forgivable loans, and the 7-week Entrepreneurship as a Second Chance (ESC) program for justice-impacted individuals; (3) Government Contracting — the APEX Accelerator, providing free counseling, certification assistance, bid matching, and proposal support, funded in part through a Department of Defense cooperative agreement.

The technology stack is deliberately lightweight and mission-appropriate rather than technology-led: web-based loan management and client intake systems (Formstack), Zoom and webinar platforms for virtual training delivery, calendar integrations with Google/iCalendar/Outlook for event distribution, an embedded loan payment calculator (AccurateCalculators.com), and PayPal for charitable donations. There is no proprietary AI technology, no published API, and no mobile app — the model relies on direct human counseling, workshops, and relationship-driven service delivery rather than platform-based scale.

UCEDC's revenue mechanics are diversified across four streams typical of a community development non-profit: (a) interest and fees on its SBA microloan and 504 loan portfolio, (b) government grants and cooperative agreements (notably the DoD-funded APEX Accelerator and County of Union funding), (c) corporate and philanthropic donations (Wells Fargo Diverse Community Capital, Impact 100 Garden State, plus PayPal-based individual giving), and (d) in-kind support via community partnerships with SCORE, SBDC, and the GSA. Most services are free; loans are unit-priced by size band with no application fees on microloans. The go-to-market model is community-led, relying on workshops, referrals, community outreach, and partnerships rather than paid acquisition, serving a long-tail of SMB customers across New Jersey, New York City, Westchester County, Philadelphia, and Bucks County, PA.

Name

UCEDC

Legal name

Union County Economic Development Corp.

Website

https://ucedc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UCEDC is a New Jersey-based non-profit economic development corporation and CDFI that provides microloans, SBA 504 loans, free business training, and government contracting assistance to underserved small businesses across the mid-Atlantic region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Lending & Development Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Financial Inclusion & Basic Banking (Unbanked/Underbanked, Low-Fee Accounts) (FSABAAAL)

Keywords

• Community development lending
• Small business financing
• SBA microloan programs
• Government contracting assistance
• Entrepreneurship training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cranford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: UCEDC operates as a non-profit organization registered as Union County Economic Development Corp., accepting donations to support small business programs. Registered with NJ Division of Consumer Affairs Charities Registration Section (NJ Registration #CH0217600).
2. Loan Interest and Fees: As a CDFI and SBA lender, UCEDC generates revenue through loan interest and origination fees on loans from $500 to $5.5 million, including SBA microloans, 504 loans, and commercial financing.
3. Government Grants and Cooperative Agreements: APEX Accelerator funded through cooperative agreement with Department of Defense and partial funding from County of Union, NJ. Additional funding from organizations like Impact 100 Garden State for specific programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UCEDC is a non-profit economic development corporation that supports small businesses through three core service lines: affordable lending (microloans up to $50,000 and SBA 504 loans up to $5.5 million, with projects up to $20 million via bank participation), free training programs (workshops, the Virtual Incubator Program, and Entrepreneurship as a Second Chance), and government contracting assistance via the APEX Accelerator program. Services are provided to startups and established businesses, with a particular focus on underserved entrepreneurs across New Jersey and surrounding regions.

Product overview

UCEDC is a non-profit economic development corporation offering a comprehensive suite of small business support services through three core pillars: Lending, Training, and Government Contracting. The Lending division provides microloans up to $50,000 and larger SBA 504 loans up to $5.5 million for startups and established businesses. The Training division delivers free workshops, the Virtual Incubator Program (VIP) for established business owners, and the Entrepreneurship as a Second Chance (ESC) program for justice-impacted individuals. The Government Contracting division operates the APEX Accelerator providing counseling, certification assistance, and contract support. These services are supported by digital tools including a loan payment calculator and comprehensive resource libraries. All programs are offered free or at low cost to serve underserved entrepreneurs in New Jersey and surrounding regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• APEX Accelerator: Government contracting assistance program that helps businesses succeed in federal, state, and local government contracting through counseling, training, and certification support.
• Virtual Incubator Program (VIP)
• Entrepreneurship as a Second Chance (ESC)

Products and services

• Lending Services Small business lending program offering loans from $500 to $5.5 million for startups and established businesses in New Jersey, New York City, Westchester County, Philadelphia, and Bucks County, PA. Operated as a CDFI and SBA lender with personalized mentoring included.
• SBA 504 Loans SBA 504 commercial real estate and major equipment loans for established small businesses, with project sizes potentially exceeding $20 million depending on bank participation. The SBA-guaranteed portion does not exceed $5.5 million.
• Microloans Microloans up to $50,000 for small business owners requiring smaller amounts of startup or working capital. SBA microloans available for startups and small businesses; no application fees (filing fees may be passed through if mortgage collateral is used for loans between $25,000 and $50,000).
• Training Programs Free training programs including workshops on business topics, multi-week programs for in-depth learning, and specialized training series tailored to small business needs.
• Virtual Incubator Program (VIP) A free, multi-week business accelerator program providing 8 weeks of instructor-led training, one-on-one counseling, and forgivable loans for qualified participants. Designed for established business owners in UCEDC's service area with a focus on diverse entrepreneurs.
• Entrepreneurship as a Second Chance (ESC) Free program supporting justice-impacted individuals seeking to start or grow their own businesses through 7 weeks of intensive training, two years of one-on-one mentoring, business plan development, and potential start-up financing. Developed with funding from Impact 100 Garden State.
• APEX Accelerator Government contracting assistance program providing one-on-one counseling, workshops, certification assistance, market research, bid opportunity identification, networking, proposal assistance, and contract support at no cost. Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense, with additional partial funding from the County of Union, NJ.
• Business Workshops Free workshops covering small business topics including marketing, GSA scheduling, government contracting strategies, AI-powered tools, pricing, sales, customer-focused marketing, franchising, intellectual property, and business fundamentals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 years of helping thousands of businesses start, grow, and thrive
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

AI capability1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• General Services Administration (GSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSA partners with UCEDC for workshops on government contracting topics including GSA Schedule marketing and federal procurement opportunities. GSA Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) provides expert presenters.
• SCOREminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCORE is referenced as a resource for entrepreneurs seeking free business counseling and mentorship alongside UCEDC's programs. UCEDC recommends SCORE chapters for additional business plan development support.
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCEDC refers entrepreneurs to SBDC for additional counseling and training support, positioning SBDC as a complementary resource for business development.
• County of Union, New JerseyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCounty of Union partners with UCEDC on workshops including AI-powered tools training, demonstrating co-marketing relationship for community business development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• SCORE: SCORE is a national nonprofit network of volunteer business mentors providing free counseling and workshops to small business owners. UCEDC explicitly partners with and refers entrepreneurs to SCORE, making it an adjacent ecosystem provider rather than a direct competitor.
• America's SBDC: America's SBDC is the national network of Small Business Development Centers providing free business advising and training to SMBs. UCEDC explicitly refers clients to SBDC for complementary counseling, making it a parallel ecosystem provider rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Kiva: Kiva is a nonprofit crowdfunded microfinance platform offering zero-interest loans to underserved small business owners globally, including in the US. It directly competes with UCEDC's microlending pillar, especially for unbanked or thin-credit entrepreneurs.
• LiftFund: LiftFund is a nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans (micro to $1M) and business coaching to underserved entrepreneurs, primarily in the Southern US. Closely comparable to UCEDC's SBA microloan and microlending-plus-training model.
• Accion: Accion is a global nonprofit focused on financial inclusion, offering small business loans, capacity building, and advisory services to underserved SMBs. Like UCEDC, it combines affordable capital with technical assistance and targets entrepreneurs excluded from traditional banking.
• Coastal Enterprises Inc (CEI): CEI is a Maine-based CDFI providing small business loans, technical assistance, and consulting to underserved entrepreneurs and mission-driven businesses. Directly comparable to UCEDC's integrated lending-plus-advisory model for rural and underserved SMBs.
• Grameen America: Grameen America is a nonprofit microfinance organization providing small-dollar loans and business support to low-income women entrepreneurs. It is directly comparable to UCEDC's CDFI microlending focus on underserved populations, including women and minority borrowers.
• Justine Petersen Housing and Reinvestment Corporation: Justine Petersen is a nonprofit CDFI providing microloans, small business lending, and credit-building programs to underserved entrepreneurs in the St. Louis region and beyond. Directly comparable to UCEDC's CDFI microlending and financial inclusion mission.
• National Development Council (NDC): NDC is a national nonprofit CDFI offering small business lending, training, and economic development services through local programs nationwide. Comparable to UCEDC's three-pillar model and federal-program-funded approach to community economic development.

Emerging players

• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is a free business education and support program for established small business owners, including access to capital. It overlaps with UCEDC's Virtual Incubator Program (VIP) training and small business lending pillars.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UCEDC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ucedc
• Instagraminstagram.com/ucedc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 UCEDC