Weak Economy Leaves Long Island Nonprofits Squeezed by Banks

"We came very close to going out of business, basically," Spector said.

Spector isn't alone. Throughout Long Island and beyond, nonprofits have found that the economic climate has led banks to be increasingly less willing to loan them money. Lines of credit are reduced or frozen - a problem for nonprofits that rely on the loans while they wait for typically delayed payments from the government for contracted services.