Small Business Recovery

The Southern Opportunity and Resilience Fund

The Southern Opportunity and Resilience (SOAR) Fund is a partnership of local and national community finance organizations created to address the capital needs of historically underbanked communities across the South and Southeast. Through 13 participating CDFIs, the program provides flexible, affordable capital and free business support to small businesses and nonprofits to help them navigate and rebuild after the COVID-19 health and economic crisis.

Overheard Station

Overhead Station, a family-owned gift shop located on Main Street in Rock Hill, South Carolina, has been in business since 1977. The co-owner, Tami Windell, is using her SOAR loan to freshen up the storefront and to purchase new merchandise.

Fund Launch

April 2021

Capital Committed

$60+ million

Available to

Institutional lenders

Geography

South and Southeast U.S.: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, D.C.

Borrowers served

Small businesses and nonprofits

Participating CDFIs

Website

www.thesoarfund.org

How it Works

Investing in the South’s small business and community nonprofits

Driving an equitable recovery across the South

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The South and Southeast US is the least economically mobile region of the US and has been under-funded for decades. At the same time, population growth and migration south are spurring new opportunities that have the potential to create more equitable ecosystems that build income and wealth for residents across the region. SOAR loans are designed to help local small businesses - including those in rural areas and those owned by women, people of color and immigrants - to rebuild and grow their businesses.

Impact at a Glance

Impact Insurance Agency

Cory Thomas, CEO of the Impact Insurance Agency, will use the funds from his loan from the National Development Council to hire additional staff, purchase additional PPE supplies, and redevelop marketing of the company.

G3

When the pandemic hit, G3, a design and architecture company, lost contracts due to halted construction. Throughout the pandemic, they pivoted to interior remodeling and sustainability consulting work. Their loan from the Ascendus will be used to train new employees to staff upcoming contracts.

“

My favorite thing about being a small business owner is that I can see the change that my business is having on the health care system and on my employees…My proudest moment as an entrepreneur is, honestly, when I received my SOAR loan.

Chandon Gordon,
Managing Director and Founder of GFN Hippy

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How to Participate

For lenders and donors interested in supporting the SOAR Fund:

Reach out to us at info@calvertimpact.org with "SOAR Fund" in the subject line. Please note that our small business recovery funds are available to institutional lenders only. The minimum commitment is typically $1 million.

Supporting Lenders and Partners

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Calvert Impact Capital, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a subsidiary of Calvert Impact, Inc., offers the Community Investment Note. Calvert Impact Climate, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a subsidiary of Calvert Impact, Inc., offers the Cut Carbon Note. The Community Investment Note and Cut Carbon Note are subject to certain risks, are not a mutual funds, are not FDIC or SIPC insured, and should not be confused with any Calvert Research and Management-sponsored investment product. Any decision to invest in these securities through this Site should only be made after reading the applicable prospectus or by calling 800-248-0337.

This is not an offer to sell you our securities and we are not soliciting you to buy our securities. The offering is made solely by the Prospectus. We will offer and sell our securities only in states where authorized.