If your small business is stressed meeting expenses during these economic times, the U.S. Small Business Administration has a new loan program designed just for you.

SBA’s America’s Recovery Capital Loan Program can provide up to $35,000 in short-term relief for viable small businesses facing immediate financial hardship to help ride out the current uncertain economic times and return to profitability.  Each small business is limited to one ARC loan.

ARC loans will be offered by some SBA lenders for as long as funding is available or until September 30, 2010, whichever comes first.  SBA Participant Lender Fact Sheet

 

ARC loans are available to viable, for-profit small businesses in the U.S. that have qualifying small business loans and are experiencing immediate financial hardship.  

Your small business must be an established business, have financial statements demonstrating it was profitable in one of the past two years, and be able to project sufficient cash flow to meet current and future loan payments over a two-year period from loan approval.  If your business does not meet these criteria, you can discuss your eligibility with your lender.  ARC loans are not designed for start-up businesses.
  

Examples of qualifying loans may include credit card obligations for your business, capital leases, notes payable to vendors/suppliers, Development Company Loan Program (504) first lien loans, other loans to small businesses made without an SBA guaranty, and loans made by or with an SBA guaranty on or after Feb. 17, 2009.
 

ARC loans are designed to help businesses experiencing immediate financial hardship for reasons such as:

·         Loss/reduction of customer base

·         Increase in cost of doing business

·         Loss/reduction of working capital and/or loss/reduction of short term credit  facilities

·         Inability to restructure existing debts due to credit restrictions

·         Loss/reduction of employees (intellectual capital)

·         Loss/reduction of major suppliers (major suppliers out of business)

Borrowers whose loans are already severely delinquent or whose past performance or future cash flow indicates that the business is not viable are not good candidates for an ARC loan..

 

If you would like to speak directly to a customer service representative about the ARC Loan Program, please call the SBA toll-free number (866-947-8081) Monday through Friday during the hours of 8am to 9pm (Eastern Time).