In 1981, organized pursuant to Section 14000 California Corporations Code which establishes Financial Development Corporation to serve the credit needs of small businesses and small farming entities utilizing the California State Loan Guarantee Program and other financing mechanisms,
In 1990, received from U. S. Department of Agriculture, Farmers Home Administration, USDA loan guarantee lending status,
In 1993, received from U.S. Department of Agriculture, Intermediary Relending Program lending status,
In 1993, received from the Small Business Administration, Microloan Program, lending status
In 1999, received “Excellence in Business” Award from the Fresno Bee, the first non-profit non-bank lender to receive the award,
In 2003, recognized by Wells Fargo Bank for operating the innovative Small Farm/Small Business Loan Program for Southeast Asian and Hispanic borrowers.
In 2004, received recertification as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) from the U.S. Department of Treasury,
Received $2.0 million in Equity Equivalent Investments (EQ2) from Wells Fargo Bank towards establishing the Small Farm / Small Business Loan Program,
In 2005, received the “Outstanding Partnership Award” from Citibank,
In 2006, received the “Non-profit Appreciation Award” from Citibank,
In 2006, selected to administer the $850,000 City of Fresno’s Hometown Entrepreneurial Loan Program (HELP),
In 2007, received the “Risk Takers, Dream Maker” Business-at-Large Award from Fresno West Coalition for Economic Development,
In 2008, received the “Non-profit Training and Appreciation Award” from Citibank,
In 2010, received $5.0 million in capital from Rabobank N.A. to supplement our agricultural lending programs
In 2010, recognized “Outstanding Performance in Community Development Lending” by California Economic Development Lending Initiative (CEDLI),
In 2010, received the “New Frontier Award” from the Greater Fresno Chamber of Commerce,
In 2011, received $1.0 million Equity Equivalent Investment (EQ2) from the Fresno Regional Foundation and Wells Fargo Bank, the first EQ2 utilizing a regional foundation in the state of California,
In 2012, featured in “Our Commitment to Growth” report as one of six profiles by Rabobank.
In 2014, Valley received a three-year grant from MUFG Union Bank totaling $300,000 to continue operating the Technical Resource Assistance Center (TRAC) in Downtown Fresno.
In August 2015, Valley was granted a USDA $50,000 Rural Business Development Grant to provide technical assistance to drought-stricken communities located in rural areas of Fresno County.
In December of 2015, Valley received a $50,000 grant from Comerica Bank to provide technical assistance and a small loan fund to disadvantaged businesses in rural areas.
In December of 2015, Valley was awarded a $5,000 grant from Tri-Counties Bank to provide technical assistance to disadvantaged businesses.
In November of 2015, Valley received a grant from the USDA-FSA Financial Training for Farmers and Ranchers for $98,049 to provide financial training to help young, beginning, and disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in Fresno, Madera, Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties.
In February of 2016, Valley was awarded a $10,500 grant from Tri-Counties Bank to continue our efforts to provide technical assistance and financial information to disadvantaged small business owners located in Fresno, Tulare, Kings, and Madera counties.
In February of 2016, Valley was the recipient of one of the Farm Credit 100 Fresh Perspectives Awards, one of 100 awards given throughout the United States for innovations in the agricultural industry. Valley gained recognition for the use of the mobile van in rural communities to offer financial literacy and access to capital in largely underserved populations.
In June of 2016, Valley was awarded a grant for $150,000 from MUFG Union Bank’s “Advancing Communities Forward, Small Business Technical Assistance Grant” funding. The funds were utilized to increase small business consultation services to assist entrepreneurs and small businesses to grow their enterprises, create employment opportunities, and improve the economic conditions in the communities they serve. The technical assistance services were offered to small business owners residing in underserved urban and rural communities in the counties of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Stanislaus, and Tulare.
In July of 2016, Valley was awarded a $20,000 grant from Wells Fargo Foundation to support our delivery of technical assistance services to diverse micro-and-small business owners residing in the Central San Joaquin Valley.
In April of 2017, Valley was awarded a grant of $47,000 from the USDA – Rural Business Development Grant program to provide “Loans on Wheels” small businesses located in rural areas of Fresno County.
In June of 2017, Valley was awarded a $10,000 grant from Pacific Western Bank to support efforts to increase access to capital for the small businesses located in the counties of Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare counties of the Central San Joaquin Valley.
In November of 2017, Valley was awarded a $10,000 grant from Tri-Counties Bank to continue our efforts to provide technical assistance and financial information to disadvantaged small business owners located in Fresno, Tulare, Kings, and Madera counties.
In November 2017, Valley was awarded a $75,000 3-year grant ($25,000 per year) grant from the Bank of the West to provide technical assistance services to the small business communities located in the counties of Fresno, Tulare, and Kings.
In November of 2017, Valley was awarded a grant request for a $400,000 from the Wells Fargo Diverse Community Capital Initiative to provide technical assistance to disadvantaged businesses, small business owners, and small famers in a four-county area within the San Joaquin Valley.
In December of 2017, Valley was awarded a $2,500 grant from Citizens Business Bank to provide technical assistance services to small businesses residing in the counties of Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare.
In November of 2018, Valley was awarded a $10,000 grant from Suncrest Bank to provide technical assistance services to small businesses residing in the counties of Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare.
In 2019, Pacific Coast Regional Small Business Development Corporation (PCR), California Association for Local Economic Development (CalEd), and Economic Development Administration (EDA) finalized a partnership with Valley Small Business to jointly administer RLF funds from CalEd and EDA. Valley has received $666,667 in EDA funds to relend to small businesses and small agri-businesses located in the Central Valley.
In October of 2019, Valley was awarded a $50,000 2-year grant from MUFG Union Bank’s “Advancing Communities Forward, Small Business Technical Assistance Grant” round 2 funding. The funds will be utilized to provide increased small business consultation and mentoring services to women entrepreneurs housed in a cowork/shared space facility.
In November of 2019, Valley was awarded a $2,500 grant from Pacific Western Bank to support efforts to increase access to capital for the small businesses located in the counties of Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare counties of the Central San Joaquin Valley.
In November of 2019, Valley was awarded a $15,000 grant from MUFG Union Bank Foundation to support our efforts to increase access to capital for the small businesses located in the Central San Joaquin Valley.
In December of 2019, Valley was awarded a $10,000 grant from Pacific Western Bank to support efforts to increase access to capital for the small businesses located in the counties of Fresno, Madera, Kings, and Tulare counties of the Central San Joaquin Valley.
In 2020, Pacific Coast Regional Small Business Development Corporation (PCR), California Association for Local Economic Development (CalEd), and Economic Development Administration (EDA) finalized a second partnership with Valley Small Business to jointly administer EDA CARES award from CalEd and EDA. Valley was awarded$456,237 in these funds to relend to small businesses and small agri-businesses located in the Central Valley.
In May of 2020, Valley was awarded a $15,000 grant from Citizens Business Bank to support our efforts to assist small business owners in the Central San Joaquin Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In October of 2020, Valley was awarded a $5,000 grant from Citizens Business Bank to support our efforts to assist small business owners in the Central San Joaquin Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In November of 2020, Valley was awarded a $3,000 grant from Tri-Counties Bank to continue our efforts to provide technical assistance and financial information to disadvantaged small business owners located in Fresno, Tulare, Kings, and Madera counties.
In November of 2020, Valley was awarded a $15,000 grant from MUFG Union Bank Foundation to support our efforts to assist small business owners in the Central San Joaquin Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In December of 2020, Valley was awarded a grant of $10,000 from the Bank of Sierra through it’s Sierra Grant Program which was created to assist non-profits impact the communities that they serve.
In June 2021, Valley was awarded a $500,000 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. “Open for Business” grant which will be utilized to assist new and existing businesses recover and rebuild from the economic devastation caused from the COVID pandemic.
In June 2021, Valley was awarded a $1,826,265 grant from the Certified Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund’s Rapid Response Program to increase lending capital and technical assistance services to small businesses and family farms operating in the Central San Joaquin Valley.
