Community Investment Corporation - Cic Lending

What Community Investment Corporation - Cic Lending does

Community Investment Corporation (dba CIC Lending) is a nonprofit economic development lender founded in 1973 and headquartered in Hamden, Connecticut. It operates as a U.S. Small Business Administration Certified Development Company (CDC) delivering three SBA-backed loan products: SBA 504 loans for commercial real estate and major fixed-asset financing (structured as 50% bank first mortgage, 40% CIC second mortgage, 10% borrower equity); SBA 7(a) / Community Advantage loans up to $350,000 for working capital, equipment, and expansion; and Microloans up to $50,000 (averaging ~$13,000) for startups and early-stage businesses, including a fast-tracked MicroNOW product offering up to $25,000 in two weeks. The Microloan program pairs capital with free business coaching delivered by an in-house advisor.

Revenue is generated from origination fees, guarantee-related fees, and interest on the CDC-retained 40% second-mortgage tranche, with program income reinvested into community lending rather than distributed to shareholders. The company serves small business owners across Connecticut, Rhode Island, and parts of Massachusetts, reaching borrowers through a direct sales team of loan officers and a business advisor, plus a co-lending channel with partner banks (Webster, Liberty, Chase, Ascend, KeyBank, Peoples, Fairfield County) whose executives also sit on CIC's board, and a referral network of accountants, attorneys, and economic development professionals. Marketing is content-led, including a 'Small Business Intelligence' podcast, a blog, a monthly SBA 504 rate posting on LinkedIn, and downloadable English and Spanish borrower resources.

Underwriting, processing, credit, and servicing are handled by a specialized team of approximately 13+ staff led by President & CEO Louis Silva and SVP/CFO Michelle Mezzi. As of the latest disclosed figures, CIC has cumulatively funded over $471 million across more than 2,016 loans since 1973, supporting the creation of more than 8,864 jobs in its served communities. The company does not disclose revenue, has no parent organization, and operates as an independent mission-driven nonprofit under SBA program governance.

Name

Community Investment Corporation - Cic Lending

Legal name

Community Investment Corporation

Website

https://ciclending.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community Investment Corporation is a nonprofit SBA Certified Development Company founded in 1973, providing SBA 504, 7(a)/Community Advantage, and Microloan financing to small businesses across Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, with cumulative originations exceeding $471 million across 2,000+ loans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

SBA Small Business Lending

NAICS

Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)

SIC

Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

SME Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Lending (FSABABAG), Private Credit / Direct Lending (FSAAAHAG)

Keywords

• SBA loan programs
• Small business lending
• Commercial real estate financing
• Microloans for startups
• Economic development lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. SBA 504 Loan Program: Long-term fixed-rate financing for commercial real estate and major equipment. Structured as 50% first mortgage from bank, 40% second mortgage from CDC (CIC), 10% borrower equity. Revenue from origination fees and interest on the CDC portion.
2. SBA 7(a) Loans: Flexible financing up to $350,000 for working capital, equipment, real estate, and expansion. Revenue from guarantee fees and loan servicing.
3. Microloans: Loans up to $50,000 for startups and early-stage businesses. Average loan size approximately $13,000. Includes free business coaching with dedicated advisor.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community Investment Corporation (CIC Lending) is a nonprofit economic development lender and SBA Certified Development Company (CDC) providing SBA-backed loan products to small businesses in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. The company originates SBA 504 long-term fixed-rate loans for commercial real estate and equipment, SBA 7(a) Community Advantage loans up to $350,000, and Microloans up to $50,000 (with a fast-tracked MicroNOW option up to $25,000 in two weeks), pairing capital with free business coaching for startups and growing businesses.

Product overview

Community Investment Corporation (CIC Lending) is an economic development lender offering three SBA-backed loan products: SBA 504 Loans (long-term fixed-rate financing for real estate and equipment), SBA 7(a) Loans/Community Advantage (flexible funding up to $350,000 for startups and growing businesses), and Microloans (small loans up to $50,000 with free business coaching). CIC also operates the Small Business Intelligence Podcast as an educational resource, providing insights on financing, economic trends, and business strategy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Small Business Intelligence: CIC's podcast for entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders covering topics on access to capital, economic trends, leadership, resilience, and growth strategies.

Products and services

• SBA 504 Loans Long-term, fixed-rate SBA 504 financing for small businesses to purchase or improve major fixed assets such as commercial real estate and equipment. Loan structure typically consists of 50% first mortgage from a partner bank, 40% second mortgage from CIC as a Certified Development Company, and 10% borrower equity. Designed for entrepreneurs buying, renovating, or constructing owner-occupied commercial property or financing large equipment purchases.
• SBA 7(a) Community Advantage Loans Flexible SBA 7(a) loan program providing up to $350,000 for startups and existing businesses that may not qualify for traditional financing. Use of funds includes working capital, equipment, real estate, and expansion. Repayment terms extend up to 7 years for working capital and up to 25 years for real estate, with SBA guarantee fees based on loan amount.
• Microloans Small business loans up to $50,000 for startups and early-stage businesses, with an average loan size of approximately $13,000. Includes free business coaching with a dedicated advisor. Features the MicroNOW fast-tracked option, offering up to $25,000 in two weeks for urgent capital needs. Repayment terms typically do not exceed 6 years. Use of funds covers working capital, inventory, equipment, startup costs, and payroll.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $471 million in loans funded across 2,016+ loans
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Florida First Capital Finance Corporation: Florida-based SBA Certified Development Company offering SBA 504 and 7(a) loans to small businesses — the closest functional analog to CIC, operating as a regional CDC with the same SBA program portfolio and nonprofit/community-development mission.
• Accion Opportunity Fund (formerly Opportunity Fund): National CDFI focused on small business microloans and SBA 7(a) Community Advantage loans for underserved entrepreneurs — closely mirrors CIC's microloan and Community Advantage products.
• LiftFund: Texas-headquartered CDFI providing SBA microloans and small business loans with bundled technical assistance — directly comparable to CIC's microloan-plus-coaching model.
• Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI): Maine-based community development financial institution (CDFI) providing small business loans, SBA 504 financing, and advisory services — directly comparable to CIC in mission, structure, and product mix.
• New York Business Development Corporation (NYBDC): New York state CDC delivering SBA 504 loans and small business financing programs, structured similarly to CIC as a mission-oriented development lender.
• TMC Financing (formerly CDC Small Business Finance): California-based CDC originating SBA 504 loans for small businesses — one of the largest CDCs nationally, providing a relevant size and model benchmark for CIC.

Emerging players

• Kiva: Global crowdfunded microloan platform supporting very small-dollar loans to entrepreneurs; an alternative to traditional SBA microloans like CIC's, often used by borrowers who do not yet qualify for SBA programs.
• Grameen America: U.S. microfinance organization providing small-dollar loans and financial services to entrepreneurs in underserved communities — comparable to CIC's microloan program but with a microlending rather than SBA-backed structure.

Broad incumbents

• Capital Impact Partners: National CDFI providing small business and community development financing across multiple states — broader scale and product set than CIC, but overlapping mission and SBA-adjacent lending.
• JPMorgan Chase (SBA Lending): One of the largest U.S. SBA 7(a) lenders and an active CIC bank partner — provides a national-incumbent benchmark for SBA lending economics and the competitive backdrop CIC operates against.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connecticut-community-investment-corporation-ctcic-
• Facebookfacebook.com/CommunityInvestmentCorporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 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 Community Investment Corporation - Cic Lending