Economic Opportunity

If you work as a salesperson or cashier (two of the state’s top three occupations), it’s likely you cannot afford to live in the community where you work. More than one-half of the jobs created in the last three years pay less than what a family needs to live on and the income of four-fifths of workers has declined in the last decade.

The Loan Fund offers several programs to help people find and keep better jobs, or create their own jobs through self-employment. Better jobs can mean improved working conditions, better benefits, higher wages, security, advancement opportunities, and flexible hours. Better jobs also mean better businesses when they result in reduced turnover, more employee commitment and shared rewards.

Individual Development Accounts assists local organizations to help low-income people save for small business investment, home ownership and post-secondary education through a matched savings program and consumer education.

MicroCredit-NH is a program of the Loan Fund. MicroCredit-NH provides self-employed and small business entrepreneurs with access to business training, loans, and networking opportunities. These business essentials are provided through a unique network of over 50 peer groups comprised of people who have different small businesses, both product-based and service-oriented.

Quality Care Partners (QCP) is a for-profit subsidiary of the Loan Fund that provides companionship and licensed nursing aide assistance in private homes and institutions in central and southern New Hampshire. QCP focuses on creating higher wages, more training and better working conditions for the traditionally low-paying, front-end jobs of licensed nursing assistants. QCP is part of our Paraprofessional Healthcare Initiative. Click here to read the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute’s case study on QCP.