Background

FORGE, Inc. is the oldest revolving loan fund in Arkansas, harnessing the capital of individuals, organizations, and governmental entities to make loans to underserved markets across the state and region. The mission of FORGE is to promote community development and economic sustainability by linking investors with borrowers, urban and rural communities, consumers with producers, and low income groups with basic affordable credit. FORGE is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Intermediary Micro-lender, and a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Since its founding in 1988, FORGE has served entrepreneurs throughout the Ozarks and Arkansas with technical assistance, business training, and loans, working primarily with low-income individuals and services tailored to these communities.

With FORGE, Inc.’s commitment to small, local business, we recognize the importance for technical assistance and access to financial capital for those impacted in our food and beverage community. It is a critical time in rebuilding more resilient American supply chains, especially in the food industry that deeply impacts all of our lives. With this focus, FORGE has partnered with Cureate, a woman-owned business committed to shifting dollars back into our local communities, by building a pipeline of empowered suppliers ready to meet this changing consumer demand landscape. Cureate’s food & beverage (F&B) entrepreneurship education curriculum has been deployed to over 250 entrepreneurs to-date, and graduates of the Cureate Courses curriculum have seen, on average, a 20% increase in revenue.

Job Summary

The Regional Director (RD) is responsible for overall coordination and delivery of business counseling and technical assistance to local businesses, with specific focus on F&B businesses in northwest Arkansas. The RD is responsible for all aspects of direct support and technical assistance to current and potential members of FORGE, including meeting the needs of current and potential small business owners in the development of a business plan and/or loan package.

Essential functions include:

1. Cultivating strong relationships with members and potential members through individual meetings to provide technical assistance and business counseling;
2. Supporting members in building business management skills through counseling, organization & facilitation of Cureate Courses, a business educational program; and
3. Social impact tracking and reporting.

To accomplish these functions, the RD will meet clients, both individually and in groups, through participation in regional events and networking activities, including technical assistance, training events and other public functions. The RD will maintain client records through the loan management system, and will adhere to all policies and procedures as determined by the FORGE Board of Trustees. This position reports to the Executive Director and works closely with other key FORGE staff and the Cureate consultant team to meet organizational objectives and serve the needs of disadvantaged entrepreneurs. This position is based remotely and requires extensive travel throughout the region.

Please email a resume and cover letter to forge@forgefund.org.