SALT LAKE CITY — For his efforts in helping to provide $12 million in financing and the creation of 100 new jobs, Matthew Ashton has put Mountain America Credit Union in the business lending spotlight.Ashton, a loan officer with the $2.8 billion CU, recently received the Utah Certified Development Co.'s Five Million Dollar award for his work with the Small Business Administration's 504 loan program. Through Ashton's efforts, Mountain America has provided more than $12 million in financing to Utah businesses, which in turn, created more than 100 new jobs last year, said Sonia Maughan, loan processor at Utah CDC."Matt has worked really hard this year and [makes] sure our members are given the best deal with the best pricing," said Curtis Anderson, vice president of SBA lending at Mountain America.Working as a partner with the SBA and a private-sector lender, the Utah CDC assists small businesses in financing up to 90% of the purchase of long-term fixed assets, such as land, buildings, including existing and new construction, and equipment.–[email protected]

REAL SolutionsIn 30 States

WASHINGTON — After its pilot debut in 2003, the REAL Solutions program of the National Credit Union Foundation, promoted as an innovative means to provide low-wealth products and services, now has 30 state leagues as participants."The program has evolved beyond products and services and is now a documented business strategy for credit unions to grow their memberships by serving the underserved," declared Steve Delfin, executive director of NCUF in a year-end report.A cornerstone of REAL Solutions, noted Delfin, has been the emphasis on alternative payday products, community outreach and tax assistance, and given the current economic crisis those areas "became an even more critical strategy."Looking ahead in 2009, REAL Solutions "will focus on growing deeper rather than broader, and while we still plan to add more states, we expect to introduce new products and services, pilot projects, and toolkits to help more credit unions," said Lois Kitsch, REAL Solutions national program director.Each time a state adopts REAL Solutions, an NCUF field coach and a CU development professional from the state league train CUs on the low-wealth products that are available."When rolling out REAL Solutions in new states, we will follow the same format that has worked so well elsewhere," Kitsch said. "By combining our resources with the league, credit unions and their members will benefit from our shared experiences."–[email protected]