Amplify Equity

Amplify Equity supports community development by promoting equity and opportunity for people of color, women, justice-impacted, low-income and other historically marginalized communities through financial assistance, education, and mentoring. We serve the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions of New York—specifically, Broome, Chemung, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties. Our headquarters is in downtown Elmira.

Breaking Down Barriers, Building Up Dreams

Amplify Equity meets entrepreneurs exactly where they are—no matter their credit score, financial history, or educational background. As a certified Community Development Financial Institution, we're rewriting the rules of business support for the people traditional systems leave behind.

Our approach is different. Instead of one-size-fits-all programs, we offer deeply personal mentorship, flexible microloans up to $20,000 with no collateral required, and accessible business education that builds both skills and confidence. We don't just hand over resources—we walk alongside each client, typically providing 1-4 hours of mentoring monthly, because we know entrepreneurship shouldn't be a lonely journey.

That's not all. Our Community Loan Fund offers interest rates starting at 8% that drop annually with consistent payments. Our innovative Amplifying Opportunity pilots provide monthly stipends to help entrepreneurs transition from survival mode to strategic growth. Our Business Accelerator combines self-paced online learning with hands-on workshops and personalized support.

We're not just funding businesses—we're fostering generational wealth and thriving communities. Every client who grows with Amplify Equity breaks a cycle and creates new possibilities for their family and community. When traditional lenders see risk, we see potential. When others focus on past financial mistakes, we invest in future impact.

This is what happens when you combine compassionate lending with relentless belief in human potential. One entrepreneur, one small business, one community at a time.