Community Lending Associate

Tucson IDA / Groundswell Capital Community Lending Associate Tucson, AZ
· Full time Apply for Community Lending Associate

The Community Lending Associate is a bilingual position that serves as the first point of contact for entrepreneurs seeking loans, grants, and business support through Groundswell Capital. This role combines community outreach, client relationship management, application support, and administrative coordination while providing extensive training in small business lending, underwriting, and community development finance. We are seeking a friendly, organized, and coachable individual who is passionate about helping Southern Arizona's entrepreneurs succeed and is eager to build a career in economic development and finance.

The Tucson Industrial Development Authority (Tucson IDA) is a quasi-governmental nonprofit organization whose mission is to enable strategic economic and community development by providing financing and access to capital for projects and programs that benefit a thriving Tucson. Our subsidiary, Groundswell Capital is a nonprofit lending organization focuses on sustainable economic development and access to capital.

Location: Tucson, Arizona

Reports To: Director of Impact Lending

Position Overview

Groundswell Capital is seeking a bilingual, community-oriented professional to help small businesses access capital and business resources.

This position serves as the first point of contact for entrepreneurs seeking loans, grants, and technical assistance. The successful candidate will receive extensive training in small business finance, underwriting, customer service, and community development lending.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys helping people, wants to build a career in finance or economic development, and is passionate about supporting Southern Arizona's entrepreneurs.

• Attend community events, workshops, and networking activities
• Build relationships with local entrepreneurs
• Conduct outreach in English and Spanish
• Explain available lending and grant programs
• Represent Groundswell Capital in the community

• Meet with prospective borrowers
• Help applicants gather required documents
• Review applications for completeness
• Schedule appointments and follow‑up meetings
• Collect tax returns, bank statements, financial statements, and business records
• Organize client files
• Prepare files for underwriting review

• Update loan management software
• Assist with reporting requirements
• Track client outcomes and program metrics

• Connect entrepreneurs to coaching and technical assistance resources
• Assist with workshops and trainings
• Provide exceptional customer service
• Support special projects as assigned

• Fluent Spanish and English
• Basic knowledge of business operations
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to perform basic business math
• Valid driver's license
• Ability to attend evening and weekend events

Successful candidates will receive training in:

• Small business lending
• Financial statement analysis
• Credit analysis
• Cash flow analysis
• Business coaching fundamentals
• Community development finance
• SBA and CDFI lending practices
• Customer relationship management

More important than experience, we are looking for someone who is:

• Curious
• Coachable
• Friendly
• Professional
• Organized
• Ethical
• Resilient
• Comfortable talking with strangers