BRIDGE Broward Opens $900,000 Loan Program

The Wells Fargo Foundation has awarded $1 million to Ascendus to launch BRIDGE Broward, a financing and coaching program for small business owners in Broward County, Florida. The program plans to deploy $900,000 in loans to an estimated 36 entrepreneurs and create or retain an estimated 160 local jobs over the grant period. Borrowers will receive personalized financial coaching alongside their loans, with support from Prospera, Hispanic Unity of Florida, and Urban League Central County Community Development Corporation. BRIDGE Broward is aimed at owners who cannot qualify for traditional bank financing.

Loans And Credit Lines

BRIDGE Broward offers microloans from $500 to $100,000. It also provides lines of credit of up to $50,000 at a fixed 13.99% rate for recurring cash flow needs. Ascendus, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution lender, will deliver the loans.

The program combines financing with coaching focused on credit health, business stability, and long-term financial confidence. The three Broward-based partners will provide tailored technical assistance to participants.

“Capital alone is not enough. Real ascension happens when capital meets coaching and collaboration. With this Wells Fargo Foundation grant and our Broward partners, we are not just lending money, we are building a system that helps entrepreneurs grow stronger businesses, healthier finances, and more resilient livelihoods. We are proud to bring this to Broward County, where the talent and ambition of small business owners deserve a partner that meets them where they are.”

Community Partners Join Delivery

Prospera, Hispanic Unity of Florida, and Urban League Central County Community Development Corporation will provide tailored technical assistance to program participants. The partnership was announced at the 2026 Broward & Beyond Business Conference.

“We are delighted to partner with Ascendus and Wells Fargo to help small business owners conquer one of their most significant barriers to success—the ability to access capital in a timely and effective manner—in addition to providing trusted and integral guidance to maximize its impact.”

“Every entrepreneur deserves a real shot at building something lasting. With this funding, HUF will take a holistic approach to closing the gap, making access to capital possible where it once felt out of reach by pairing every loan with personalized financial coaching and technical assistance that strengthens credit health, business stability, and long-term financial confidence. Partnerships like this multiply what any single organization can achieve alone, connecting our entrepreneurs to the capital, knowledge, and relationships that turn ambition into lasting success. Sharing resources builds collective strength.”

A Florida Lending Record

Ascendus has operated in Florida for more than 20 years, deploying more than $63 million in small business loans and serving more than 3,000 entrepreneurs in the state. Across the United States, the organization reports deploying more than $420 million to over 57,000 entrepreneurs during more than 30 years of operation.

The new Broward program arrives as small business owners in South Florida face rising costs, tighter credit markets, and uncertainty. Its structure gives qualifying owners a route to smaller loans, working capital, coaching, and local guidance in one program.

“Small businesses are the heartbeat of Broward County, and we're committed to helping them grow and thrive. With this $1 million grant to help launch BRIDGE Broward, we're bringing together capital, local expertise, and strong community partnerships to expand access and create real opportunity for entrepreneurs who have too often been overlooked. We're proud to work alongside Ascendus and our local nonprofits to support the talent and ambition driving this community forward.”