The Small Business Administration 504 Loan Program

Book excerpt: The Small Business Administration (SBA) administers programs to support small businesses, including several loan guaranty programs designed to encourage lenders to provide loans to small businesses "that might not otherwise obtain financing on reasonable terms and conditions." The SBA's 504 Certified Development Company (504/CDC) loan guaranty program is administered through non-profit Certified Development Companies (CDC). It provides long-term fixed rate financing for major fixed assets, such as land, buildings, equipment, and machinery. This book examines the lending standards and performance measures SBA has established to help ensure that loans meet key requirements, as well as 504 loan performance, and SBA's processes for reviewing CDCs' eligibility to participate in the program, loan applications, and CDCs' compliance with program requirements.