Cornerstone Receives SBA Lender Honors

Sam’s Club Pilots SBA Loan Program

SBA Lending Continues 15-Month Rise

Loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration continued their 15-month ascent in southeast Wisconsin in May, but the pace could slow in June if Congress doesn’t extend the higher guarantees, The Business Journal of Milwaukee reported.

M&I Earns SBA 504 Loan Honors

For the fifth consecutive year, M&I Bank was recognized by the Wisconsin Small Business Administration as the 504 Loan Program Lender of the Year, the Small Business Times of Milwaukee reported.

Madison Development Corp. Making Small Loans

The Madison Development Corp., a nonprofit founded in 1977 by then-Mayor Paul Soglin, has been able to make loans to start-up or early-stage businesses that otherwise would not meet conventional bank loan standards in this economic environment. The average loan size in 2009 was $60,000, with interest rates set to match commercial bank rates. Read the Wisconsin State Journal article.

Milwaukee Small Biz Loans Quadruple

Loans made through the U.S. Small Business Administration quadrupled in the Milwaukee area in February compared with February 2009 as the improving economy and stimulus measures continue to encourage SBA lending. Read more in the Business Journal.

Column: Help Small Biz, Banks By Helping SBA

“We should offer smaller banks the additional capital they need to expand their small business lending,” writes Karen Mills, administrator of the Small Business Administration, in a Green Bay Press-Gazette guest column, detailing ways that SBA programs could stimulate the economy.

Significant Rise in Business Lending in Wis.

Lenders provided $31.4 million in government-guaranteed financing to Wisconsin small businesses in January. That’s down from the December number but higher than the January levels of the last few years, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Bankers Hope Regulators Ease Policies

After a joint statement from federal regulators on small business lending, Wisconsin bankers said they are hopeful, but not confident, that regulators will ease policies that discourage lending to small businesses. Read more in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

SBA Loan Values Up 145% in SE Wis.

The value of SBA-backed loans increased 145 percent, to $13.14 million in January 2010 from $5.36 million in January 2009 in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington and Waukesha counties. The number of loans made increased to 53 from 43, a 23 percent increase, the Business Journal of Milwaukee reported.