What Cumberland Empowerment Zone Corporation does

Cumberland Empowerment Zone Corporation (CEZC) is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in 1999 and headquartered in Bridgeton, New Jersey. The organization administers a portfolio of small business loan programs and Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) financial incentives targeted at underserved communities in Cumberland County, specifically the cities of Bridgeton, Millville, Vineland, and the Bayshore region. CEZC has invested more than $20 million in Empowerment Zone funding since inception, leveraging in excess of $250 million in combined private and public sector investment, and has been recognized as one of the most successful Empowerment Zones in the nation.

The core product set comprises seven loan programs spanning two categories: county-wide general programs (Micro Loan up to $35,000, NJ Main Street Micro up to $25,000, and NJ Main Street Business up to $100,000) and Urban Enterprise Zone programs administered on behalf of three municipalities (Bridgeton up to $50,000, Millville Micro up to $75,000, Millville Business up to $150,000, and Vineland up to $125,000). Loan rates are set by the CEZC Board of Directors based on use of funds, risk, and collateral, with certain programs carrying a fixed 5% rate. The organization also facilitates the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit and provides technical assistance through a partner ecosystem that includes NJSBDC, UCEDC, LAEDA, NJEDA, NJBAC, and SCORE.

CEZC operates as a direct lender with a sales-led go-to-market motion, processing applications internally and working with both borrowers and primary lenders to structure subordinate or gap financing where appropriate. The organization is governed by a board that includes municipal officials from Vineland and Millville, partner organization executives, and local business owners, and is led by Executive Director Denise Jackson under the founder/CEO role of Albert B. Kelly. Revenue is generated primarily through interest and fees on the loan portfolio, though no current period revenue figure is disclosed.

Name

Cumberland Empowerment Zone Corporation

Legal name

Cumberland Empowerment Zone Corporation

Website

https://cezcorp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cumberland Empowerment Zone Corporation is a non-profit CDFI founded in 1999 that administers small business loan programs and Urban Enterprise Zone incentives for underserved communities in Bridgeton, Millville, Vineland, and the Bayshore region of Cumberland County, New Jersey.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bridgeton

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest and Fees: CEZC generates revenue through interest on loans provided to small businesses. Interest rates are set by the CEZC Board of Directors based on use of funds, risk, and collateral. Rates vary by program (e.g., 5% Fixed for Bridgeton UEZ and NJ Main Street Micro programs).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Cumberland Empowerment Zone Corporation (CEZC) is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that administers a portfolio of loan programs providing financing to small businesses and entrepreneurs in Cumberland County, New Jersey. Its core offerings include micro loans (up to $35,000), business loans (variable amounts), Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) loan programs administered for Bridgeton, Millville, and Vineland, and county-wide NJ Main Street loan programs. CEZC also connects borrowers to technical assistance resources through partner economic development organizations.

Product overview

Cumberland Empowerment Zone Corporation (CEZC) operates as a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) offering a portfolio of loan programs and tax incentives for small businesses in Cumberland County, New Jersey. The product portfolio includes seven distinct loan programs spanning two categories: general county-wide programs (Micro Loan Program up to $35,000, NJ Main Street Micro Loan Program up to $25,000, and NJ Main Street Business Loan Program up to $100,000) and Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) programs for Bridgeton, Millville, and Vineland (Bridgeton UEZ up to $50,000, Millville UEZ Micro up to $75,000, Millville UEZ Business up to $150,000, and Vineland UEZ up to $125,000). Additionally, CEZC provides the Work Opportunity Tax Credit incentive and technical assistance through partnerships with regional economic development organizations. These programs work together to provide comprehensive financial support from micro-lending through larger business expansion financing, all focused on economic and community development in underserved areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CEZC Micro Loan Program
• CEZC Business Loan Program
• Vineland UEZ Loan Program
• Bridgeton UEZ Loan Program
• Millville UEZ Micro Loan Program
• Millville UEZ Business Loan Program
• NJ Main Street Micro Loan Program
• NJ Main Street Business Loan Program
• Work Opportunity Tax Credit
• Technical Assistance Services Business development support services provided through partnerships with NJSBDC, UCEDC, LAEDA, NJEDA, NJBAC, and SCORE to assist entrepreneurs with business planning, financing, marketing, and management.

Quantifiable outcome

• $250 million in private/public funding leveraged from $20 million in EZ funding

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NJSBDC (New Jersey Small Business Development Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNJSBDC offers free educational and business resources to help small business owners finance, market, and manage their companies. Clients are assisted in exploring business ideas, developing business plans, making cash flow projections, preparing financial statements, and formulating marketing strategies.
• UCEDCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCEDC is a private, non-profit economic development corporation dedicated to boosting local economies and strengthening communities through business development and job creation. Since 1977, they have helped small businesses by making loans, training and mentoring business owners, helping businesses obtain government contracts, and providing business information.
• LAEDA (Latin American Economic Development Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAEDA is a not-for-profit economic development organization dedicated to assisting emerging entrepreneurs and small business owners to start and grow their businesses in Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, Atlantic and Cumberland counties in New Jersey. Provides continuous support, mentoring and technical assistance.
• NJEDA (New Jersey Economic Development Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNJEDA grows the state's economy and increases equitable access to opportunity by supporting high-quality job creation, catalyzing investment, and fostering vibrant, inclusive community development. Works in partnership with diverse stakeholders to implement programs and initiatives.
• NJBAC (New Jersey Business Advocacy Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNJBAC helps businesses thrive, grow, and succeed across New Jersey. Connects businesses with appropriate experts to reach their goals. Facilitates meetings with government and regulatory agencies at local, state and federal level.
• SCOREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCORE provides one-on-one mentoring support for small business success with experienced advice, consulting on best practices, and educating on small business topics. Offers workshops at low or no cost.
• Millville Urban Enterprise ZonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEZC administers the Millville UEZ Loan Program providing favorable financial incentives for business expansion in the Millville UEZ. UEZ certification issued by the State of New Jersey through the Enterprise Zone Program Corporation of Millville.
• Vineland Urban Enterprise ZonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEZC administers the Vineland UEZ Loan Program providing favorable financial incentives for business expansion in the Vineland UEZ. UEZ certification issued by the State of New Jersey through the Enterprise Zone Development Corporation Vineland.
• Bridgeton Urban Enterprise ZonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEZC administers the Bridgeton UEZ Loan Program providing favorable financial incentives for business expansion in the Bridgeton UEZ. UEZ certification issued by the State of New Jersey through the Bridgeton Urban Enterprise Zone program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA): New Jersey's statewide economic development financing authority, which CEZC partners with and which offers broader small-business, real estate, and incentive programs across the state. Comparable as a public-source lender in NJ serving similar borrowers but at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• LiftFund: A nonprofit CDFI offering small business loans (micro and larger) to entrepreneurs who lack access to traditional financing, with a focus on minority-owned and underserved businesses. Directly comparable to CEZC in product mix, mission, and target customer.
• Opportunity Finance Network: A national network of CDFIs providing capital, policy advocacy, and capacity-building to community development lenders. Comparable to CEZC as a CDFI operating in the small-business, underserved-market lending space.
• Justine Petersen Housing & Reinvestment Corporation: A St. Louis-based nonprofit CDFI providing small business microloans and credit-building services to low-income entrepreneurs. Comparable to CEZC as a regional CDFI lender focused on micro and small-business loans in underserved communities.
• SCORE: A national nonprofit providing free mentoring, workshops, and small business advisory services — many of CEZC's clients are referred through SCORE. Comparable as a complementary small-business support provider in the same ecosystem.
• Grameen America: A nonprofit microfinance organization providing small business loans to low-income entrepreneurs, primarily women, in underserved U.S. communities. Highly comparable to CEZC in mission (community development lending) and target borrower base, though operating at national scale.
• New Jersey Small Business Development Center (NJSBDC): New Jersey's state SBDC network providing free business advising, training, and resources to entrepreneurs. CEZC lists NJSBDC as a core referral partner; comparable as a small-business development resource provider in NJ.
• Accion: A nonprofit CDFI that provides small business loans, advisory, and capital to small business owners who lack access to mainstream financing. Directly comparable to CEZC as a community development lender focused on small-business credit in underserved markets.
• Kiva: A nonprofit crowdfunded microloan platform lending to small businesses and entrepreneurs globally, including in underserved U.S. communities. Comparable to CEZC in offering small-dollar loans to borrowers excluded from traditional credit markets.
• CDC Small Business Finance: A nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans including SBA 504 and microloans to underserved borrowers in the western U.S. Comparable to CEZC in serving the small-business credit gap with mission-aligned capital.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Cumberland Empowerment Zone Corporation