The Philadelphia Business Lending Network (PBLN) streamlines the process for local business owners to express interest in loan financing. At no cost and using only one form, you can notify a group of more than 30 for-profit and nonprofit lenders of your interest to apply for a loan.

Eligibility requirements include having a small business currently in Philadelphia or concrete plans to relocate or expand into the city. PBLN participants may also qualify for an equity incentive grant through the Department of Commerce. For eligible small businesses approved for a loan by a PBLN lender, the Department of Commerce provides an equity incentive grant of up to $50,000, covering up to 50% of the total funding request.

In 2025, 46 businesses received a total of $831,907 in funding through the PBLN.

Business testimonial

To highlight the impact of the PBLN, we spoke with Jocelyn Peralta, founder and creative director of Jocelyn’s Bakery in North Philadelphia, alongside Greenline Access Capital—a participating PBLN lender that supplied funding to the business. Read how accessing funding through the PBLN helped Peralta grow her business.

From home kitchen to storefront

For more than two decades, Peralta and her husband operated a corner store in Philadelphia. Alongside running their business, she developed a passion for baking. Starting at home in 2014 after having her children, she began building a loyal customer base, balancing her home-based baking with serving her corner store customers.

Peralta decided to take her vision to the next level. “Two years ago, I decided to give it more depth and concentrate more on my bakery passion,” Peralta shared. The couple sold their corner store, using the capital to launch the storefront for Jocelyn’s Bakery in February 2024 at 5506 N. 5th St. in North Philadelphia.

Customer demand grew tremendously after Peralta transitioned from a home kitchen to a commercial storefront. “It’s not the same having a home bakery and becoming a storefront because the demand is bigger,” she explained. “As the demand is bigger, your customers demand you more, and you need more equipment, more inventory, and the production increases.”

To help scale operations, Peralta connected with Greenline Access Capital, a participating PBLN lender. Combining her own savings with funding and grant support through the PBLN allowed her to purchase baking equipment, such as specialized freezers to meet high-production volume, along with marketing support and inventory.

Beyond the daily tasks of operating her business, Peralta’s passion shines through her intricate custom cake designs. “When I create a cake, I get into it. I fall in love with it — cakes with flowers [and] tall cakes. The taller, the better,” she said.

Looking ahead, Peralta envisions expanding her business to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs by turning the bakery into a teaching academy for self-taught bakers. “I learned on my own… watching Food Network, YouTube, [and] social media,” Peralta shared. “I want to teach what I learned on my own through making mistakes and learning from those mistakes.”

Today, Jocelyn’s Bakery continues to thrive, fueled by community support, creativity, and strategic resource connections through initiatives such as the PBLN.

“What I appreciate most about the Philadelphia Department of Commerce and the PBLN program is that the support goes far beyond funding,” Peralta said. “The classes, mentorship, educational resources, and guidance you provide have helped me grow not only my business, but also my confidence as an entrepreneur. Those opportunities have been just as valuable to me as any financial assistance, and I am truly grateful.”

Interested in loan financing for your business?

The Philadelphia Business Lending Network (PBLN) helps business owners express interest in loan financing. Using one form and at no cost, you can tell a group of more than 30 lenders that you’re interested in applying for a loan. Once submitted, PBLN lenders will reach out to you directly. To begin your application, complete the online financing interest form. The PBLN team reviews every completed interest form.