Small business owners looking for the right financing, guidance and connections got a valuable opportunity to find all three at “Meet the Lenders: Strong Capital–Strong Business,” held Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the Moorestown Library.
The two hour event connected entrepreneurs with local lenders, capital resources and organizations dedicated to helping small businesses launch, sustain and grow.
The day began with a keynote address by Quinton Law, Mayor of Moorestown, who highlighted the importance of ensuring small businesses have access to resources that support their growth and reaffirmed his commitment to bringing those resources to Moorestown.
The event continued with three panels covering critical areas of business development.
Planning and Preparing for Success
The first panel, “Navigating the Small Business Support Ecosystem,” featured LAEDA, the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and Rutgers Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
Jamila Program, LAEDA WBC Program Director and panelist, stressed the importance of preparation: “For small businesses it is important to not start backwards, you must plan, prepare and then produce.”
Closing the Capital Gap
The second panel, “Bridging the Capital Gap for Small Businesses through CDFIs,” featured NJEDA, UCEDC and Pursuit, giving entrepreneurs insight into financing options beyond traditional banking.
Alejandro Cruz of UCEDC offered a straightforward message to business owners preparing to seek funding: “Understand your business before approaching a lender. Don’t bring a business plan that ChatGPT created if you don’t understand it and most importantly can’t implement it.”
Building Relationships That Drive Growth
The third and final panel, “Powering Small Business Growth through Banking Partnerships,” featured Truist, Univest Bank and Trust Co. and Citizens Bank.
April Ward, Co-owner of Creative Content on Demand and panel moderator, described the atmosphere as both informative and energizing: “The information shared during each lightning round session was so valuable and the energy in the room was motivating and inspiring.”
Sonya Ramirez of Truist Bank emphasized the importance of connections, saying, “I was honored to participate in the panel and share how the right relationships can provide access to knowledge, resources, capital and opportunities for long term growth.”
The event concluded with business owners connecting and building relationships with not only the lenders and resource partners mentioned above but also representatives from the NJ Business Action Center (NJBAC), TD Bank, Citadel Credit Union, M&T Bank, The Enterprise Center, and VestedIn
Take the Next Step
If you’re a small business owner, don’t wait for the next opportunity to find support. Assess your needs, build your network and connect with the organizations that can help turn your business goals into sustainable growth. Visit LAEDA.com to learn more about the available business development resources in your area.