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One of the top priorities for entrepreneurs is obtaining the capital they need to start or expand their business. The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship is focused on creating more opportunities for Americans to start and grow businesses of their own. The Committee oversees the Small Business Administration's loan and venture capital programs which help entrepreneurs access financing they aren't able to get through traditional channels.

The 7(a) loan program provides the largest source of long-term working capital to small businesses in this country. The 504 loan program uses non-profit entities known as Certified Development Companies to provide long-term loans for fixed assets such as land, buildings and equipment. The microloan program - which proportionally helps more women and minorities than other loan programs - provides loans of $35,000 or less to entrepreneurs.

The Committee also oversees the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program, which provides venture capital financing to small firms. The Small Business Administration partners with the private firms, which the government backs through long-term loans so that they can leverage the money of private investors to provide small businesses with capital to grow their business and create jobs. SBICs differ from traditional venture capital firms in that they make smaller deals, between $250,000 and $5,000,000, and spread their investments more broadly around the country and a bigger variety of industries.

The Committee has passed bipartisan bills to expand and improve all of these programs.

Press Releases
11/25/08	Kerry, Snowe, Schumer Push Results in Treasury Move to Help Small Businesses
11/20/08	Kerry, Snowe, Schumer Push Sec. Paulson to Purchase Small Business Loans Immediately
11/18/08	Kerry, Schumer Announce Senate Stimulus Package To Include Their Proposal To Aid Small Businesses
11/13/08	Kerry, Schumer Lending Proposals Implemented
11/05/08	Kerry Continues to Push for Small Business Help

Statements
09/25/08	Statement of Senator John F. Kerry on the Small Business Lending Market Stabilization Act
09/11/08	Statement of Senator John F. Kerry on Business Start-up Hurdles in Underserved Communities: Access to Venture Capital and Entrepreneurship Training
05/14/08	Kerry Opening Statement on Reducing Unemployment and Increasing Business Opportunities for Veterans
04/28/08	Senator Kerry's Prepared Remarks on Small Business Legislation
04/16/08	Kerry Opening Statement on The Impact of the Credit Crunch on Small Business

Articles
12/08/08	What Will Obama's SBA Be Like?
11/25/08	New Lending Program Evokes 'Cautious Optimism' in Small Biz Community
11/13/08	Kerry Committee Gets Approval for SBA Changes
11/12/08	SBA sits on sidelines as small businesses suffer
11/07/08	SBA urges lenders to defer loan payments