ABC's & 123's Learning Center's expansion opens in Noblesville with SBA 504 financing from Community First Bank and Indiana Statewide CDC

The new expansion is open at ABC's & 123's Learning Center west of Noblesville, nearly doubling the school's capacity. The original school opened less than two years ago with 109 students. The new addition boosts the school's capacity to over 200 students ranging in age from six weeks to twelve years old. ABC's &123's Owner Nazli Khan financed the expansion with a loan from the US Small Business Administration 504 program. Community First Bank of Indiana and Indiana Statewide Certified Development Corporation are providing the loan. An earlier SBA 504 loan to Khan from the same lenders helped her build and equip the original school in 2016. The school is on Westfield Road (IN 32) just west of Noblesville. Indiana Statewide CDC works with local Indiana lenders to issue SBA 504 loans to help owners of expanding or startup small businesses buy real estate, buildings and equipment. SBA 504 loans can give small business owners long-term, fixed rate financing similar to commercial loan terms available for large companies. Casey Arnold of Community First Bank says, "The SBA 504 loan is a perfect building tool for Nazli Khan. She is a dedicated educator and knowledgable borrower for whom success leads to success." Omar Khan, Nazli's son and vice president of ABC's & 123's Learning Centers, says, "The SBA 504 loan allowed us to put less money down — 10 percent compared to 15 or 20 percent in a commercial loan — and it certainly helps us. And we avoid changeable interest rates with the 504's long-term, fixed rate." ABC's & 123's employs more than 70 people at three locations. The other two schools are in Indianapolis and Avon. Nazli Khan says, "We start at infancy to educate and develop our student's cognitive abilities to achieve the highest capabilities to prepare them for kindergarten and beyond." She opened her first ABC's & 123's in 1989 after looking for high quality preschool education for her own children. Background: Indiana Statewide CDC has provided more than $530 million to 1,260 Indiana companies since 1983, creating or saving more than 26,595 jobs, and is the most prolific CDC in Indiana. Executive Director Jean Wojtowicz says, "SBA 504 loans help small businesses grow because borrowing companies can put as little as 10 percent down and receive a low, fixed interest rate for as long as 25 years. The SBA guarantees bonds sold privately to finance a portion of the loan. With the guarantee, we can offer more favorable loan rates than generally available to small businesses." Community First Bank (www.cfbindiana.com) When Community First Bank of Indiana was founded in 2003, it was the first bank chartered in Howard County in 55 years. It now includes more than 60 employees and three branches in its home county and a location in Noblesville. ABC's & 123's Learning Centers (www.abc123learningcenter.com) sprang from one mother's need to give parents an option of quality early childhood education and care for their children at an affordable price. ABC's & 123's Learning Centers pride themselves on providing a safe, nurturing environment that prepares children for kindergarten and beyond.