FDDC Blog

Feature 504: Trav’s Outfitter, Watertown, SD

Trav’s Outfitter Incorporated, located in Watertown, South Dakota, is one of First District Development Company’s most recent clients to take advantage of a low, fixed interest rate SBA 504 loan. The 504 loan, in conjunction with a conventional loan offered by American Bank & Trust in Sioux Falls, provided Trav’s Outfitter an attractive financing package featuring manageable debt repayment requirements, which in turn put an ease on their cash flow. Loan proceeds from the 504 and American Bank & Trust were used to construct a new building in Watertown to house Trav’s Outfitter.


Not Enough Cash? Check Out the 504’s Low Equity Requirements –

When using the 504 program through FDDC, small business owners may be able to get into a commercial fixed asset project with as little as 10% down. Financing is completed with a partner lender at 50% of project costs and FDDC/SBA 504 at 40% of project costs.


Remember: Refinance is an SBA 504 Option

With SBA 504 rates dipping to new lows, your clients may benefit by locking in a fixed rate on existing commercial debt. Remember SBA 504 Debt Refinance is a permanent part of the program and pertains whether you have new or existing clients with qualified debt at least two years old.


Bye-Bye Winter, Hello Construction

Construction season is upon us! Now is the time to get your clients’ permanent financing in order. An SBA 504 loan is able to finance 30-40% of the total cost to construct a new building or remodel an existing building.


Appraisal Threshold Raised for SBA 504

Congress recently passed the Small Business ACE Act which raises the appraisal threshold for 504 loans secured by commercial real estate to match the federal banking regulator appraisal threshold amount for commercial real estate transactions.


FDDC Makes the SBA 504 Process Easy

1. Contact FDDC – to discuss eligibility to receive SBA 504 financing and the best possible loan structure.
2. Submit an Application – the application form is available on our website: http://fddc.1stdistrict.org. A checklist of items that need to be attached are listed on the application.


FDDC Awards Scholarships

This year FDDC offered five – $1,000 scholarships to students pursuing a post-secondary degree in a business/finance related field. Congratulations to these award winners who are being recognized for their hard work and determination! FDDC wishes them continued success in their future careers.


Feature 504: Alsville Crossing, Lake Norden, SD

With an interest in serving their friends and neighbors, Kyle Waliezer and Jeff Halme decided to build a new convenience store and gas station, while capitalizing on the increased truck traffic in the Lake Norden area. The location carries a history of providing fuel and other services to U.S. Highway 81 traffic that dates back to 1936. Moving to the site when the highway was re-routed, the original station was built by Al and Emily Flakus and was called Alsville Service and Garage, Café and Modern Cabins. The Flakus family ran the business for 36 years and after other owners took over, the business eventually dissolved. With the historic name of “Alsville”, Waliezer and Halme opted to add “Crossing”, with the business now being known as Alsville Crossing.


About to Crack Due to an Unusual Request?

SBA 504 financing through FDDC is a perfect choice for a wide variety of projects – no one size, one color, or one pattern fits all here! FDDC is able to spot deals that may have several quirks to them and work their way through the maze to get to the end result – a financed project.


Change Made to SBA’s Job Creation / Retention Rule

The SBA 504 program is a business economic development loan program. SBA has defined a number of economic development criteria a small business applicant can meet in order to be eligible for 504 financing. One of these criteria, job creation and retention, has recently been changed by SBA… making it even easier for small businesses to be eligible for 504 financing.