Meet the Expert: SBA's Access to Capital Information Session - Schoolcraft College APEX Accelerator

The SBA’s Access to Capital Information Session provides established and aspiring small business owners with insight into the criteria used by loan officers to evaluate a loan request along with an overview of SBA’s Financing Programs.  This training demystifies the lending process by walking participants through the key criteria that financial institutions use to assess creditworthiness and risk.  By the end of the session, attendees will be equipped to assemble more compelling loan applications and improve their chances of approval.

Participants will gain an understanding of:

• The Five Cs of Credit: Character, Capacity, Capital, Collateral, and Conditions.
• The role each "C" plays in a lender’s decision-making process.
• How key financial indicators—such as credit scores, financial statements, cash flow, debt-to-income ratios, and business plans—are analyzed during the loan application review.

Guest Presenter: Latfia Bradwell, Lender Specialist, Michigan District Office

About Latifa: Latifa joined the SBA Michigan District Office’s Lender Relations team in 2015. Latifa educates and informs the lending and small business community of SBA’s lending products and services. She also serves as the program manager for the district’s five microlenders. Latifa has over 25 years of experience in the economic development environment. Prior to joining the SBA, Latifa held positions as the Deputy Director of the Tejara Global Business Development Center, a business incubator and accelerator in Dearborn, MI and as a Senior Business and Growth Consultant for the Michigan Small Business Development Center. Her honors and awards include 2010 Outstanding Business Counselor – Recognition of Excellence – Leadership Award from the Michigan Small Business Development Center. In her current role at the SBA, she was awarded the 2024 Embrace Award and the 2018 Federal Employee of the Year Award issued by the Federal Executive Board. Latifa earned an MBA from Eastern Michigan University and a BS in Accounting from Wayne State University. 

 

The APEX Accelerator provides assistance to businesses in marketing products and services to federal, state, and local government agencies. Schoolcraft College in Livonia has sponsored the local program since 1985 and is the link between the government, prime contractors, and businesses.

This APEX Accelerator is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense. Additionally, the Schoolcraft College APEX Accelerator is funded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Schoolcraft College.