SBA Issues Record Loan Volume in 2011

Washington, DC, Oct. 7, 2011 -- A record loan volume of $19.6 billion was issued through the Small Business Administration's flagship program in fiscal 2011, the agency reported.

The funds were distributed to 53,706 businesses, about the same number as in 2010, but in general larger loans were made as the agency last year raised the loan ceiling to $5 million.

Loans of less than $150,000 were issued to 29,682 businesses in 2011, down from 34,238 last year, according to agency documents.

The dollar volume is a 58% increase from last year and a 113% increase from 2009 – the worst year of the credit crunch.