Our History
In late 2000 Otero County partnered with Otero Junior College and Las Animas County to obtain a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to capitalize a revolving loan fund program as well as providing funding for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) located at Otero Junior College. The initial grant was $250,000. Two loan programs were made available – Direct Loan Program and Microenterprise Loan Program. The application was approved and funded.
In September 2001 Otero Partners, Incorporated was formed as a 501(c)3 organization whose purpose was to create a revolving loan fund to encourage economic diversity and job creation and retention to benefit very low-, low- and moderate-income persons in Otero County and Las Animas County.
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WHO WE ARE
Otero Partners, Inc. was formed in 2001 under intergovernmental agreements between Otero County, Town of Cheraw, City of La Junta, Town of Swink, City of Rocky Ford, Town of Manzanola and Town of Fowler and Las Animas County, all within Colorado.
The primary function was to create a revolving loan fund to encourage economic diversity and job creation and retention to benefit very low-, low- and moderate-income persons in Otero and Las Animas Counties.