Robert Jay Dilger
Senior Specialist in American National Government
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. Of the total project costs, a third-party lender must provide at least 50% of the financing, the CDC provides up to 40% of the financing through a 100% SBA-guaranteed debenture, and the applicant provides at least 10% of the financing. It is named from Section 504 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (P.L. 85-699, as amended), which authorized the program. In FY2009, the SBA funded 6,293 504/CDC loans amounting to about $3.8 billion.
Congressional interest in the 504/CDC program has increased in recent years because of increased concern that small businesses might be prevented from accessing sufficient capital to assist in the economic recovery. Congress considered several Obama Administration proposals and bills during the 111th Congress that would have amended the 504/CDC program in an effort to increase the number, and amount, of 504/CDC loans before adopting the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. President Obama signed the bill into law (P.L. 111-240) on September 27, 2010. It increased the 504/CDC program’s loan guaranty limits from $1.5 million to $5 million for “regular” borrowers, from $2 million to $5 million if the loan proceeds are directed toward one or more specified public policy goals, and from $4 million to $5.5 million for manufacturers. It also temporarily expands the ability of 504/CDC borrowers to use the program for the refinancing of existing debt, and provides $505 million to extend through December 31, 2010, the temporary subsidization of 504/CDC and 7(a) loan guaranty program fees and the temporary increase in the 7(a) program’s maximum loan guaranty percentage from up to 85% of loans of $150,000 or less and up to 75% of loans exceeding $150,000 to 90% for all standard 7(a) loans. The fee subsidies and 90% loan guaranty percentage were initially funded under P.L. 111-5, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), and had expired on May 31, 2010.
This report opens with a discussion of the rationale provided for the 504/CDC program, the program’s borrower and lender eligibility standards, program requirements, and program statistics, including loan volume, loss rates, use of the proceeds, borrower satisfaction, and borrower demographics.
It then examines congressional action taken during the 111th Congress to assist small businesses gain greater access to capital, including the enactment of P.L. 111-5, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and P.L. 111-240, the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. It also examines issues raised concerning the SBA’s administration of the program, including the oversight of 504/CDC lenders.
Date of Report: October 4, 2010
Number of Pages: 28
Order Number: R41184
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
Senior Specialist in American National Government
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. Of the total project costs, a third-party lender must provide at least 50% of the financing, the CDC provides up to 40% of the financing through a 100% SBA-guaranteed debenture, and the applicant provides at least 10% of the financing. It is named from Section 504 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (P.L. 85-699, as amended), which authorized the program. In FY2009, the SBA funded 6,293 504/CDC loans amounting to about $3.8 billion.
Congressional interest in the 504/CDC program has increased in recent years because of increased concern that small businesses might be prevented from accessing sufficient capital to assist in the economic recovery. Congress considered several Obama Administration proposals and bills during the 111th Congress that would have amended the 504/CDC program in an effort to increase the number, and amount, of 504/CDC loans before adopting the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. President Obama signed the bill into law (P.L. 111-240) on September 27, 2010. It increased the 504/CDC program’s loan guaranty limits from $1.5 million to $5 million for “regular” borrowers, from $2 million to $5 million if the loan proceeds are directed toward one or more specified public policy goals, and from $4 million to $5.5 million for manufacturers. It also temporarily expands the ability of 504/CDC borrowers to use the program for the refinancing of existing debt, and provides $505 million to extend through December 31, 2010, the temporary subsidization of 504/CDC and 7(a) loan guaranty program fees and the temporary increase in the 7(a) program’s maximum loan guaranty percentage from up to 85% of loans of $150,000 or less and up to 75% of loans exceeding $150,000 to 90% for all standard 7(a) loans. The fee subsidies and 90% loan guaranty percentage were initially funded under P.L. 111-5, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), and had expired on May 31, 2010.
This report opens with a discussion of the rationale provided for the 504/CDC program, the program’s borrower and lender eligibility standards, program requirements, and program statistics, including loan volume, loss rates, use of the proceeds, borrower satisfaction, and borrower demographics.
It then examines congressional action taken during the 111th Congress to assist small businesses gain greater access to capital, including the enactment of P.L. 111-5, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and P.L. 111-240, the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. It also examines issues raised concerning the SBA’s administration of the program, including the oversight of 504/CDC lenders.
Date of Report: October 4, 2010
Number of Pages: 28
Order Number: R41184
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
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