Small Business: Funding, Management and Mentor Programs

Congressional interest in small business access to capital has increased in recent years because of concerns that small businesses might be prevented from accessing sufficient capital to enable them to start, continue, or expand operations and create jobs. Chapter 1 focuses on the Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF). It opens with a discussion of the supply and demand for small business loans then examines other arguments presented both for and against the program. Chapter 2 discusses how SBA monitors lenders' compliance with the credit elsewhere requirement, the extent to which SBA evaluates trends in lender credit elsewhere practices, and lenders' views on the credit elsewhere criteria for 7(a) loans. Chapter 3 examines the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) and its implementation, including Treasury's response to initial program audits conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Treasury's Office of Inspector General (OIG). Chapter 4 discusses small business startups' experiences with the SBA's management and technical assistance training programs, focusing on Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women Business Centers (WBCs), and SCORE (formerly the Service Corps of Retired Executives); the SBA's 7(a), 504/CDC, and Microloan lending programs; and the SBA's Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) venture capital program. Chapter 5 examines small business startups' experiences with the SBA's management and technical assistance training programs, focusing on Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women Business Centers (WBCs), and SCORE (formerly the Service Corps of Retired Executives); the SBA's 7(a), 504/CDC, and Microloan lending programs; and the SBA's Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) venture capital program. Chapter 6 provides an overview of the federal government's various small business mentor-protege programs.