Congress fails to pass SBA Recovery Act – Old Rules Apply

On a vote of 57-41, the U.S. Senate defeated legislation that would have keep the increased guarantees and fee waivers in place for another year. While lending to small business has been difficult at best, the return to the old rules will mean even fewer deals get done, since the banks will have more risk.

For working capital (7a) loans less than $150,000, banks will receive an 85% guarantee and will charge a 2% fee on the guaranteed portion. From $150,001 to $700,000 the guarantee is 75% and the fee is 3%. Loans above that amount will be 75% guaranteed with a 3.5% fee.

For SBA Express loans, the cap is$350,000 with a 50% guarantee and a 2% fee.

Most banks will allow rolling these additional fees into the loan.

California’s Contracting with Small Business and Disabled Vets Exceeds State Goals

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California state agencies in two of the last three years exceeded goals for contracting with small businesses and set a record for contracts with firms owned by disabled veterans, the Department of General Services announced today, releasing reports for the 2007/08 and 2008/09 fiscal years .
Continue reading “California’s Contracting with Small Business and Disabled Vets Exceeds State Goals”

Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation for Green Tech Manufacturing Equipment Sales Tax Exemption to Create Jobs

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Contact: Aaron McLear/Kira Heinrichs
916-445-4571

Building on his commitment to clean technology growth in California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed SB 71 by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) to create a sales tax exemption for the purchase of green tech manufacturing equipment in California. This tax exemption is a part of the Governor’s California Jobs Initiative, a legislative package that will create or retain at least 100,000 jobs.
Continue reading “Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation for Green Tech Manufacturing Equipment Sales Tax Exemption to Create Jobs”

California Recovery Task Force Launches Interactive Web Portal

Press Release

For Immediate Release:  03/23/2010

Contact: Aaron McLear/Eric Alborg
916-445-5880

California Recovery Task Force Launches Interactive Web Portal

In an effort to provide unprecedented transparency of stimulus spending in California, the California Recovery Task Force has launched an interactive Web Portal (www.recovery.ca.gov) that tracks the more than $85 billion in cash and tax benefits expected overall for Californians.

“Tracking stimulus money has further underscored the need to break through the silos of government at the federal, state and local levels,” said Senior Advisor to the Governor and California Recovery Task Force Director Herb K. Schultz.  “Our Web Portal will continue to evolve in order to provide the most transparent picture of government spending in U.S. history.”

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SBA Recovery Act Funding Extended

Extension of SBA Recovery Lending Programs Will Support $1.8 Billion in Small Business Lending

Agency plans to restart Recovery loan approvals on March 10

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama signed legislation Tuesday extending until March 28 the U.S. Small Business Administration’s ability to provide small business loans that are enhanced with special provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), including a higher guarantee of SBA-backed loans and a waiver of loan fees normally paid by borrowers.

SBA estimates the additional funding will support about $1.8 billion in small business lending.
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Regulators ease up on small business loans | CNN Money


I hope this is true.

Hoping to ease the small-business credit crunch, six regulatory agencies recently banded together in a joint statement essentially promising to back off second-guessing banks’ loans. “Prudent” small business lending “will not be subject to supervisory criticism,” a regulatory group led by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) said earlier this month.

Read Article.

John Thain Makes Bold Promise He Most Likely Can’t Keep | Dealbreaker

This is poetic justice.

John Thain (not in photo) is the former CEO of Merrill Lynch who famously spent millions of dollars redecorating his offices while the firm went down in flames. At left is the office he has sworn not to alter at his new job at CIT Group.

For a man who spent $87,000 on a rug and $1,000 a yard for drapes, this is perfect.

The cardboard cutout in the photo will presumably be removed.

Sweet.

Read Article.

Find Out Where Your Money Goes! | An Occasional Series

I hear nonstop bitching from Democrats and Republicans and Independents about where all the bailout (or stimulus) money is going. This is one of those times in life where the more educated about reality you are, the better.

Click here to be taken to a map that shows which banks received TARP money. This is from the government website http://www.financialstability.gov. At whim or random, we will keep putting information from this site out because it’s important stuff. But really, you should become familiar with it so you at least know what the facts are (or ‘facts’ are, depending 0n your political affiliation).

You know how to tell when a politician is lying, right?

Statewide small business stimulus program heads to Riverside | Office of the Small Business Advocate

Business Matchmaking and SBDC team to help entrepreneurs access contracts
Statewide small business stimulus program heads to Riverside

SACRAMENTO — On Feb. 4 Riverside businesses will have the opportunity to participate in a free statewide program aimed at increasing small business readiness to access stimulus-funded contracts through President Obama’s Economic Recovery Plan.
Continue reading “Statewide small business stimulus program heads to Riverside | Office of the Small Business Advocate”