Mid Cities Credit Union recently helped walk a small business owner through the steps to get financing for a new truck and become compliant with a California greenhouse gas emission measure.

Julio Contreras, a member of the $24 million credit union in Compton, Calif., was able to obtain a State Treasury California Capital Access Program, or CalCAP, Air Resources Board loan.  

The ARB's Heavy-Duty Vehicle Air Quality Loan Program provides financial assistance to truckers affected by the Statewide In-Use Bus and Truck Rule and the Heavy-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Measure, according to Mid Cities CU.

The loan helped Contreras purchase a new truck and meet state compliance rules, the credit union said.

“I would have lost a lot of business, not being able to transport in and out of the Port of Los Angeles, without the assistance from Mid Cities Credit Union and the ARB,” Contreras said.

In addition to making the application process easier, Contreras said the credit union acted as a liaison with the ARB to make sure his documents were in order.

The CalCAP program is a loan guarantee program that ensures loans are made to small businesses to help them grow, according to Mid Cities CU.

Loans can be used to finance the acquisition of land, construction or renovation of buildings, the purchase of equipment, other capital projects and working capital.