Building success in underserved communities.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) launched the Community Advantage pilot program in 2011 to increase SBA lending to businesses in underserved and emerging markets. Under the pilot, SBA granted select mission-oriented lenders 7(a) loan guarantee authority for certain loans of $250,000 or less made to qualified small businesses.
To be certified as a CA lender, an entity must be an SBA Certified Development Company (CDCs), an SBA-Certified Microlender, an SBA Intermediary Lender, or a Treasury-Certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI).
Once certified, at least 60 % of a CA lender’s loans must be issued to businesses in underserved markets, including: low-to-moderate income (LMI) communities, Empowerment Zones or Enterprise Communities, Opportunity Zones, HUBZones, and rural areas. New businesses/startups, Veteran-owned businesses, and businesses employing individuals who are low-income or live in an LMI community are also considered to be in underserved markets.
To be certified as a CA lender, an entity must be an SBA Certified Development Company (CDCs), an SBA-Certified Microlender, an SBA Intermediary Lender, or a Treasury-Certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI).
Once certified, at least 60 % of a CA lender’s loans must be issued to businesses in underserved markets, including: low-to-moderate income (LMI) communities, Empowerment Zones or Enterprise Communities, Opportunity Zones, HUBZones, and rural areas. New businesses/startups, Veteran-owned businesses, and businesses employing individuals who are low-income or live in an LMI community are also considered to be in underserved markets.