Changes

<onlyinclude>Created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has two strategic goals: first, growing businesses and creating jobs, and second, to serve as the voice for [[:Small Business]]. SBA claims that the core of their entrepreneurial development is the foundation of targeted, effective advising, training, and mentoring services to drive business. Their entrepreneurial development performance goal focuses on driving greater participation in the resource partner advising and mentoring programs and training courses. The [[:SBA]] primarily offers a range of financial assistance programs for small businesses that may have trouble qualifying for a traditional bank loan. The SBA guarantees $65 million in loans to small businesses through its two major loan programs, 7(a) and 504. Follow this link for a list of the major [[SBA Loans]]. SBA's programs also include financial and federal contract procurement assistance, management assistance, and specialized outreach to women, minorities and armed forces veterans. SBA also provides loans to victims of natural disasters and specialized advice and assistance in international trade. [https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/what-we-do/history ] </onlyinclude>

Agencies affiliated with the SBA include: Small Business Investment Company ([[SBIC]]), Small Business Innovation Research ([[SBIR]]), and Small Business Development Centers ([[SBDC]]).

Answer desk: answerdesk@sba.gov

Office of Performance Management and the Chief Financial Officer: (202-205-6449)

*Broad goal: Strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems through a variety of strategic partnerships to provide tailored training, mentoring, and advising services that support entrepreneurs during every phase of their business growth.

*Performance goal: reach 1.4 million clients with online and in-person training, mentoring, and advising in FY 2016.

#Offer tailored training through structured programs and online access

SBA's total budget request for FY 2016 (including Stafford Act Disaster funding) is $860 million. Of this amount, $3.3 million is for business loan subsidy, $19.9 million for the Office of the Inspector General and $9.1 million for the Office of Advocacy. This total is inclusive of $28 million for administering non-Stafford Act disasters.

*Allocates $3 million towards "idea lab" which will help adopt private sector best practices

*[http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-16-107 GAO report on SBIC]

**GAO recommended that SBA provide guidance to SBIC on how to collect and report data on their investments in minority, women, and veteran owned businesses.

*[http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/description-of-the-small-business-23940/ Description of the SBIC Debenture Program]

*[http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/669651.pdf GAO report finds SBIR data reporting inadequate]