Bankers aren’t lending. The federal government passed stimulus packages for small business, which small businesses never saw nor could access. In this economic blunder, the small business owners and entrepreneurs, who are the backbone of the economy and account for 70 percent of the new jobs, have been hit the hardest.

Ned Homfeld, an entrepreneur himself, who started a small charter plane service back in 1980, and took it to a major carrier by founding Spirit Airlines, felt it was his time to give back in light of the problems. 

“As an entrepreneur myself, I understand how frustrating it is trying to convince a banker, who knows nothing about your business, to lend you money for capital investment,” said Mr. Homfeld, who saw his chance to give back to the community through his long-time friend, Sandra Bower, and her credit card processing company EC Metro.

“I was telling Ned, about a restaurant owner who wanted to purchase a new point of sale system, but couldn’t find financing because he didn’t fit the stringent underwriting criterion of the banks” said Ms. Bower, President and CEO of EC Metro, “and he asked me, how can we make a difference?”

That’s how ECM Funding, LLC was born. A company that provides a 12-month interest-free loan for entrepreneurs and small businesses for capital investment, from $5,000, with a 97% approval rate.

What kind of businesses could qualify for this program?

“A restaurant that needs equipment, a garage that needs a hoist, a business that needs a new sign, a lawyer that needs a new computer system…any business that accepts credit, or debit cards or wants to” said Ms. Bower, who founded EC Metro 11 years ago, one of the most successful and reliable, independent card processing companies in the tri-county area, which prides itself in forming close relationships with their clients, and offers rates at just above cost, no long term contracts and 24-hour service.

“Once business owners try us, and see what difference it is dealing with people who care, and not machines, or automated call centers, and see our responsiveness and intervention in resolving issues in their favor, they stay with us for life,” said Ms. Bower. For more information visit www.ecmetro.com or call 888-368-7844.