The Refugee Microenterprise Development (MED) Program promotes the economic integration of ORR-eligible populations by providing them with loans, training, and technical assistance to start, maintain, and expand small businesses. Through ORR-funded grant organizations, individuals, who possess insufficient assets and credit required by commercial lenders, can receive loans up to $15,000 and participate in one-on-one trainings and workshops to help strengthen their businesses. The program also helps clients improve their credit scores by offering credit-building loans, which are reported to the credit bureaus. The program not only creates small businesses, but it also generates jobs, increases incomes, and helps contribute to the U.S. economy.
The Refugee MED Program began in 1991, supporting community-based organizations with lending experience to assist previously financially excluded refugees. The program promotes entrepreneurship as an employment strategy. Refugees who are not yet citizens, and who have been in the U.S. for no more than five years at the time of enrollment, may participate in the program. Organizations leverage the ORR grant to receive funding from other mainstream MED programs, including from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Services
- Small business loans up to $15,000
- Credit-building loans up to $1,500 to establish, improve, and/or repair credit history
- Business plan preparation
- One-on-one business counseling
- Group trainings on business-related topics, such as bookkeeping, licensing, marketing, and social media
Prior to receiving a loan, clients complete trainings on the above and receive ongoing training until loan repayment. Loan payments are reported to credit bureaus to assist individuals in establishing, improving, and/or repairing their credit histories. Repaid loans also go back into the recipient organization’s revolving loan fund. The Refugee MED Program encourages recipient organizations to diversify their funding bases and maximize the amount of money they have available to lend.
Contact Information
drsprograms@acf.hhs.gov