$60,000 Grant Expands Small-Business Support for East Texas Entrepreneurs
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas), together with its member institutions Austin Bank and Woodforest National Bank® (Woodforest), has awarded $60,000 in Partnership Grant Program (PGP) funding to Greater Texas Capital Community Finance, doing business as Lending Avenue®.
The grant is designed to strengthen Lending Avenue’s efforts to provide entrepreneurs throughout East Texas with greater access to small-dollar business loans, technical assistance, and financial education. The funding will help the organization expand programs intended to support entrepreneurs at different stages of their business journeys, from launching a new company to managing growth and building long-term financial sustainability.
The award is part of $1.8 million in PGP funding distributed in 2026 by FHLB Dallas and its member institutions across the Federal Home Loan Bank’s five-state District, which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas.
FHLB Dallas announced the funding during a celebratory event in Irving, Texas, held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Partnership Grant Program. The milestone highlights three decades of efforts to strengthen community-based organizations and expand economic and housing opportunities through partnerships between financial institutions and local organizations.
Funding to Expand Entrepreneurial Opportunities
For Lending Avenue, the $60,000 award represents an opportunity to expand its work supporting small-business owners who may face challenges accessing traditional sources of capital.
Small businesses and entrepreneurs often require relatively modest amounts of financing to launch operations, purchase equipment, manage working capital, hire employees, or respond to unexpected expenses. However, smaller financing needs can sometimes be difficult to meet through conventional lending channels.
Lending Avenue aims to address this gap by providing small-dollar loans alongside educational resources and technical assistance. By combining access to capital with practical business support, the organization seeks to give entrepreneurs the tools they need to establish and strengthen their businesses.
Kaitlyn Shultz, director of Marketing and Development at Lending Avenue, said the PGP funding will directly strengthen the organization’s ability to support entrepreneurs with responsible financing and educational resources.
According to Shultz, the grant will allow Lending Avenue to scale its lending and education programs so that more small-business owners across the region can receive assistance as they start, grow, and sustain their businesses.
The organization expects the additional resources to help broaden the reach of its programs and make financial and business-development support available to a larger number of entrepreneurs in East Texas.
Partnership Grant Program Marks 30 Years
The Partnership Grant Program has served as an important mechanism for connecting financial institutions with community-based organizations working in affordable housing and economic development.
Through the program, FHLB Dallas can provide grants that match contributions from participating member institutions at a ratio of up to 5-to-1. Individual member contributions can be matched up to $25,000 per member.
The program is intended to strengthen organizations that provide services in areas such as affordable housing, community development, economic opportunity, and small-business support.
Rather than operating as a standalone funding initiative, the PGP relies on partnerships between FHLB Dallas member institutions and eligible community organizations. This structure allows banks and other financial institutions to direct additional resources toward initiatives that address local economic and community needs.
Austin Bank and Woodforest National Bank participated in the funding provided to Lending Avenue.
The 2026 awards represent $1.8 million in total PGP funding across FHLB Dallas’ five-state District. The funding demonstrates the role that financial institutions and community organizations can play together in expanding economic opportunities for individuals and businesses.
Woodforest Highlights Local Economic Impact
Woodforest National Bank emphasized the broader economic benefits associated with providing entrepreneurs with access to capital and business-support resources.
Daniel Galindo, senior vice president and director of Community Development and Strategic Initiatives at Woodforest National Bank, said the Partnership Grant Program helps amplify local investment and create long-term community impact.
Galindo noted that the funding will enable Lending Avenue to expand access to capital as well as business support services for entrepreneurs throughout East Texas.
For Woodforest, participation in the program reflects a broader commitment to community development. Supporting entrepreneurs can have an impact beyond individual businesses because successful small businesses can contribute to local employment, consumer activity, investment, and economic growth.
Access to financing is particularly important for entrepreneurs who may not have sufficient personal capital or established financial histories to secure traditional business financing. Programs that combine loans with technical assistance and financial education can potentially help business owners make more informed decisions about borrowing, cash flow, budgeting, and long-term growth.
Austin Bank Reinforces Community Commitment
Austin Bank also highlighted its long-standing commitment to investing in the communities it serves.
Jeff Austin III, chairman of the board at Austin Bank, said partnering with organizations such as Lending Avenue is consistent with the bank’s focus on community investment. Austin also serves on the FHLB Dallas Board of Directors.
According to Austin, the PGP award will extend the impact of the partnership to a greater number of entrepreneurs who contribute to the economic prosperity of the East Texas region.
Entrepreneurs and small-business owners can play an important role in regional economies by creating jobs, introducing new products and services, and keeping economic activity within local communities.
By supporting organizations that work directly with business owners, financial institutions can help address some of the barriers that entrepreneurs encounter when attempting to establish or expand their companies.
The Lending Avenue grant therefore represents more than a single financial award. It is part of a broader partnership involving a regional community organization, banking institutions, and FHLB Dallas to expand economic opportunities.
Importance of Small-Dollar Business Lending
Small-dollar financing can be particularly valuable for entrepreneurs who need limited amounts of capital but may not qualify for larger conventional business loans.
A business owner might require financing to purchase inventory, acquire equipment, cover operating expenses, make improvements, or support a new phase of expansion. Access to relatively modest amounts of responsible capital can sometimes make a significant difference in whether a business can move forward with a planned investment.
However, capital alone may not be sufficient.
Business owners may also need assistance understanding financial statements, developing business plans, managing cash flow, establishing budgets, marketing their services, or preparing for future financing needs.
That is why Lending Avenue’s model incorporates technical assistance and financial education alongside lending. The PGP funding is expected to help the organization expand all three areas of support.
This combination could allow entrepreneurs to not only obtain financing but also strengthen the financial knowledge and operational skills necessary to manage that financing effectively.
Strengthening East Texas Communities
The economic impact of entrepreneurship extends across communities.
When small businesses grow, they can create employment opportunities and generate demand for goods and services from other local businesses. Entrepreneurs can also help diversify local economies by introducing new services and creating businesses that meet community needs.
Organizations such as Lending Avenue work at the community level to help entrepreneurs overcome financial and educational barriers.
The $60,000 PGP award is expected to strengthen these efforts across East Texas by providing additional resources for Lending Avenue’s lending and education programs.
FHLB Dallas Senior Vice President and Director of Community Investment Greg Hettrick emphasized the importance of supporting organizations that expand access to small-business financing.
Hettrick said helping organizations that provide small-business lending is essential to strengthening local economies. He also emphasized that entrepreneurs benefit when they have choices and options for accessing capital.
The statement reflects the broader purpose of the Partnership Grant Program: to give community organizations additional resources that can be deployed where local needs are greatest.
Financial Education as a Key Component
Financial education is another central element of Lending Avenue’s work.
For entrepreneurs, understanding how to manage business finances can be just as important as obtaining initial funding. Effective cash-flow management, responsible borrowing, budgeting, and financial planning can influence a company’s ability to remain stable and grow.
By providing educational resources in conjunction with lending, Lending Avenue can help business owners develop greater financial awareness.
Technical assistance can also provide entrepreneurs with practical guidance as they navigate the challenges of running a business. This may be especially valuable for new business owners who are managing operations, finances, marketing, and customer relationships for the first time.
The PGP grant will therefore support an approach that focuses not only on providing capital but also on helping entrepreneurs develop the skills needed to use that capital effectively.
A Collaborative Approach to Community Development
The Lending Avenue award illustrates how collaboration among banks, community organizations, and FHLB Dallas can produce targeted economic-development opportunities.
FHLB Dallas provides the framework and matching support through the Partnership Grant Program, while participating member institutions contribute funding and develop relationships with community organizations.
Organizations such as Lending Avenue then use those resources to deliver services directly to entrepreneurs and communities.
This collaborative model can help financial institutions better understand local needs while allowing community organizations to expand programs that may otherwise face funding limitations.
The $1.8 million in PGP funding awarded across the FHLB Dallas District in 2026 demonstrates the scale of this approach.
For East Texas, the $60,000 award will provide Lending Avenue with additional resources to expand its programs and reach more entrepreneurs.
The funding arrives at an important time for entrepreneurs seeking to establish and expand small businesses.
As business owners navigate changing economic conditions, access to affordable capital and reliable financial guidance remains important. Community-focused lending organizations can help fill gaps by offering products and services designed around the needs of smaller businesses.
Lending Avenue plans to use the PGP funding to expand its small-dollar lending, technical assistance, and financial education programs across East Texas.
The organization’s goal is to help more entrepreneurs launch businesses, strengthen existing operations, and build sustainable companies.
Meanwhile, FHLB Dallas, Austin Bank, and Woodforest’s involvement demonstrates the continued role of financial institutions in supporting community-level economic development.
The 30th anniversary of the Partnership Grant Program provides an opportunity to highlight the program’s long-term contribution to affordable housing and economic development while also looking toward future community needs.
The $60,000 grant to Lending Avenue is one example of how targeted funding can support entrepreneurs who may otherwise encounter barriers to capital and business resources.
By expanding access to responsible financing, technical assistance, and financial education, the initiative is expected to provide East Texas entrepreneurs with additional opportunities to build and grow their businesses.
Ultimately, the partnership between FHLB Dallas, Austin Bank, Woodforest National Bank, and Lending Avenue underscores the importance of collaboration in strengthening local economies. For entrepreneurs, access to capital combined with practical knowledge can provide a stronger foundation for long-term success. For communities, supporting those entrepreneurs can contribute to business creation, employment, economic activity, and broader regional prosperity.
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