We are excited to invite you to a pivotal moment in our journey. After 46 years of dedicated service, we have officially changed our name from Arcata Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) to North Edge: Business Financing & Community Development. This new name reflects our growth and our commitment to better serve our community.
Why a Name Change?
It was time.
When our nonprofit was established in 1978, we only provided lending services for the City of Arcata to support housing rehabilitation and small business development. Since then, we’ve expanded our service area from Arcata to a six-county region and increased the types of services we provide beyond lending. For over a decade, we’ve known that the name “AEDC” no longer reflects how our organization has changed and grown.
It helps us connect with the people we’re trying to help.
We exist to help small businesses grow through our financial lending services and programming—particularly minority business owners and those in the most rural areas of our region. Not only was “Arcata” confusing (we’ve literally had people drive to Arcata for meetings, though our offices have been in Eureka for years), but “Economic Development Corporation” doesn’t easily convey the message of who we’re here for—the business owner. Plus, North Edge is easier to say and remember!
We seek to bring our region to the cutting edge of equitable economic prosperity.
Our six-county region (Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, Siskiyou, and Trinity Counties) covers the most northern parts of California. This remarkable and rural area of the Golden State faces unique challenges and opportunities. North Edge funds opportunities that uplift our region and give our clients the financial edge they need to grow.
What's Next?
As North Edge: Business Financing & Community Development, we remain committed to our core mission of supporting small businesses and fostering community development. Our new name reflects not just a change in identity, but a renewed dedication to the communities we serve. We continue to offer a range of financing options, including SBA 504 Loans, USDA Rural Development IRP funds, and SBA Microloans, ensuring that businesses in Northern California have the capital they need to operate.
We are more than just a lender; we also partner with various community organizations to promote a resilient and equitable rural economy across Northern California. Initiatives such as the Redwood Region RISE, an initiative of California Jobs First and the Redwood Coast Region Economic Development Summit highlight our commitment to regional economic prosperity.
“We’re not just about business loans—we’re really about overall community development and engagement,” explained Hannah Joy, business development and loan officer. “The name North Edge better captures our mission, the area we serve, and the people that we’re here to support. Our name is changing, but our services are not. North Edge is just the next chapter of the story.”
To learn more about the services we offer, keep exploring our new website www.northedgefinancing.org!
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