News

June 25, 2026

Dakota Business Lending Welcomes Gracie Nelson

Dakota Business Lending is pleased to welcome Gracie Nelson to their team as a Marketing Specialist. In this role, Nelson will support DBL’s marketing and communication efforts, help strengthen brand awareness, and promote programs and events. She will work alongside the marketing team to implement various marketing campaigns and brand initiatives that help connect entrepreneurs, […]

June 16, 2026

NEW! North Dakota Business Hall of Fame Now Open in Medora

Built on Grit, the first ND Business Hall of Fame designed to honor and celebrate businesses in North Dakota, is now open! This new exhibit, created by Dakota Business Lending (DBL) in partnership with the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, is located inside the Harold Schafer Heritage Center in Medora, welcoming visitors of all ages during […]

January 14, 2026

Dakota Business Lending Welcomes Josh Klug

Dakota Business Lending (DBL) is pleased to welcome Josh Klug to their team as a Business Development and Commercial Loan Officer, working to develop and foster relationships with lenders, small businesses, economic development professionals, and other partners. Based out of DBL’s headquarter office in Fargo, he will be serving Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo and surrounding […]

January 12, 2026

Fargo Moorhead Community Theater to Rebuild Theater with Support from New Markets Tax Credit Program

Dakota Business Lending (DBL) recently closed an allocation of $7,500,000 in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) to support the rebuilding of Fargo Moorhead Community Theater (FMCT)’s theater in downtown Fargo.   For 79 years, FMCT has been providing access to performing arts education and theatrical experiences to the region. They have been operating out of […]

December 29, 2025

Dakota Business Lending Receives a Fourth New Markets Tax Credits Award for $70 Million

Dakota Business Lending (DBL) has been selected by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund to receive a $70 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) award. This is their fourth NMTC allocation, following two $30M awards received in 2021 and 2022, and a $50M award received in 2024. They remain the first […]

November 18, 2025

Dakota Business Lending Welcomes Carter Johnson

Dakota Business Lending is excited to announce the addition of Carter Johnson as a Loan Specialist, assisting in the preparation, processing, and servicing of SBA 504 loans. In this role, Johnson will provide administrative and technical support to the lending team, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and strong communication throughout the loan process. He will also play a key role in maintaining compliance, managing […]

November 13, 2025

Dakota Business Lending Welcomes Shandi Puhr

Dakota Business Lending is pleased to welcome Shandi Puhr as a Loan Specialist. In this role, Puhr will support the organization’s lending team, with a primary focus on the Direct Business Loan Program, through the preparation, processing, and servicing of business loans. She will help ensure a seamless experience for borrowers and lending partners by […]

October 2, 2025

We are OPEN! Dakota Business Lending’s Commitment During the Government Shutdown

With the current government shutdown, we want to assure you that we are open and working hard to continue to provide you with the financing resources you need during this time. While we work in connection with the Small Business Administration (SBA) which is closed until the federal budget is approved, we are an independent […]

September 9, 2025

Dakota Business Lending Welcomes Angelica Alexandrou

Dakota Business Lending is pleased to welcome Angelica Alexandrou to their team as a Loan Assistant. In this position, Alexandrou will provide administrative support to the Dakota Business Lending team, focusing on loan processing, closing, and servicing functions. She will play an important role in preparing loan documents, coordinating with borrowers and banking partners, managing […]

July 25, 2025

Dakota Business Lending Expands Footprint into South Dakota

Dakota Business Lending (DBL), a leading provider of small business financing, is proud to announce their expansion into South Dakota. As a long-standing Certified Development Corporation (CDC) and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), DBL specializes in long-term, fixed-rate financing for commercial real estate and equipment through the SBA 504 program, along with their flexible Direct […]

April 16, 2025

Dakota Business Lending Welcomes Sarah Hauser

Dakota Business Lending is pleased to welcome Sarah Hauser to their team as a Loan Closing and Servicing Specialist. In this position, Hauser will support the closing and servicing of loans in accordance with SBA guidelines. Her responsibilities will include preparing loan documents, coordinating with borrowers and partners, managing loan files, and helping ensure a […]

February 11, 2025

Dakota Business Lending Welcomes Chantell Ramberg

Dakota Business Lending is excited to announce the addition of Chantell Ramberg as Executive Assistant, a new role created to support the organization’s growth and its mission to help small businesses thrive. Ramberg will play a pivotal role in assisting the senior leadership team by managing administrative tasks, coordinating complex schedules, and providing high-level operational […]

October 23, 2024

Applications for the Third Cohort of the Entrepreneur District are Now Open

Dakota Business Lending (DBL) is excited to announce that applications for the third cohort of the Entrepreneur District are now open. Located on the second floor of the DBL headquarter office in Fargo, the Entrepreneur District is a transformative space that brings together small business owners from various industries. Entrepreneurs in Residence will have access […]

October 9, 2024

Exciting Improvements to the SBA 504 Debt Refinance Program

The U.S. Small Business Administration has recently made improvements to the SBA 504 Debt Refinance program to make it more accessible for small business owners. These changes simplify the qualifications, reduce certain requirements, and provide greater flexibility for borrowers, making it easier for businesses to access this valuable program…

September 23, 2024

Dakota Business Lending Welcomes Brandon Orr and Opens New Office in Bozeman, MT

Dakota Business Lending (DBL) is pleased to welcome Brandon Orr to their team as a Business Development and Commercial Loan Officer, working to develop and foster relationships with lenders, small businesses, economic development professionals, and other partners. Based out of Bozeman, MT, Orr will be a part of DBL’s Montana team and will be working […]

September 20, 2024

Dakota Business Lending Receives a Third New Markets Tax Credits Award for $50 Million

Dakota Business Lending (DBL) has been selected by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund to receive a $50 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) award. This is their third NMTC allocation, following two $30M awards received in 2021 and 2022. They remain the first and only North Dakota-based financing entity to […]

September 12, 2024

Dakota Business Lending Welcomes Molly Bradford

Dakota Business Lending (DBL) is pleased to welcome Molly Bradford to their team as a Business Development and Commercial Loan Officer, working to develop and foster relationships with lenders, small businesses, economic development professionals, and other partners. Based out of Missoula, MT, she will be joining DBL’s Montana team with a focus on the western […]

August 29, 2024

Dakota Business Lending Welcomes Shelby Kraemer

Dakota Business Lending (DBL) is pleased to welcome Shelby Kraemer to their team as an Underwriter. Kraemer will work with DBL’s underwriting team to develop and analyze credit requests for all loan program funds. In addition, she will assist in supporting several other areas of loan operations. A native of eastern South Dakota, Kraemer has […]

July 12, 2024

Dakota Business Lending and South Dakota Development Corporation Forge New Partnership to Strengthen Small Business Support in South Dakota

Dakota Business Lending (DBL) is excited to announce a new partnership with South Dakota Development Corporation (SDDC). This collaboration will bring DBL’s 40+ years of small business lending expertise to help support business development and loan operations for SDDC and their borrowers, lenders, and partners throughout South Dakota. SDDC is a 40+-year-old non-profit Certified Development […]