North Edge: Business Financing & Community Development

Our Story

Our organization started in 1978 to support housing rehabilitation and small business development in Arcata, California. Originally named Arcata Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), our nonprofit was designated as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in 2003 which means that we’re committed to supporting disadvantaged and disinvested communities in our funding efforts.

Throughout the next several decades, our position as a leading lender in Humboldt County allowed us to expand our service area and programs beyond Humboldt to the surrounding counties throughout Northern California. Today, we provide business financing and community development in Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, Lake, Trinity, and Siskiyou counties.

We’re not your typical lending institution. As a CDFI, we’re able to prioritize providing affordable loans to those who need them most. For minority-owned businesses or entrepreneurs who don’t qualify for loans from traditional lenders, North Edge is a trusted local partner for accessing the capital businesses need to grow. 

We’re so much more than a lender. We also partner with a variety of organizations and programs designed to foster a resilient and equitable rural economy across Northern California. From hosting annual region-wide economic summits to collaborating on projects and initiatives such as Redwood Region RISE, a project of California Jobs First, we’re committed to bringing economic prosperity to our region.