Founded in 1992 and headquartered in downtown Chicago, SomerCor is a non-profit Certified Development Company holding SBA Accredited Lender Program (ALP) status and ranked in the top 15 CDCs nationally by 504 origination volume. Over its three-decade history, SomerCor has deployed more than $1.84 billion in SBA loans across 2,800+ small businesses in 1,793 communities, supporting the creation of over 22,000 jobs. In 2025 alone, the organization approved 121 new loans and funded 81 projects totaling more than $245 million in SBA financing — its fifth consecutive year originating over $100 million in 504 loans — and was named CDC of the Year by the Coleman Report (a leading SBA lending publication) along with national recognition as an Inc. Magazine Power Partner. Beyond core SBA 504 lending and refinancing, SomerCor administers the SBA Community Advantage program (smaller 7(a) loans from $50,000 to $350,000 with at least 60% directed to underserved markets), a Cook County-funded SBA 504 Down Payment Assistance Program for first-time owner-occupied real estate buyers, and a VetLoan Advantage initiative for veteran-owned businesses. SomerCor also plays a uniquely central role in Chicago economic development as the long-running administrator of the City of Chicago's Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) and Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) grant programs — having deployed more than $153 million in public SBIF funding to over 2,200 Chicago businesses across 25 years.