Citation URL: http://www.urban.org/RachelBrash

This report addresses two questions about outcomes for firms receiving assistance through SBA's 7(a), CDC 504, or SBIC programs between 1999 and 2001: 1) what happens to sales, employment, and survival before and after firms receive SBA financing; and 2) what explains the changes observed in sales or employment after firms receive SBA financing? Descriptive analyses found that prior to financing and each year thereafter, average sales increased over time, as did average employment. Multivariate analyses found that firm age, industry, and region of the country were significantly related to percent change in sales and employment for all three programs.

This study assessed (1) whether duplication of SBA's 7(a), 504, MicroLoan, and SBIC programs exists at federal, state, and local levels; 2) if duplication occurs between SBA's two largest programs—7(a) and 504; and, 3) the nature of such overlaps. The study found some overlap exists between SBA's 7(a) and 504 programs, and a small degree of duplication exists between SBA programs and similar programs run by other federal agencies. More potential duplication exists at state and local levels, where general-purpose loan and loan guarantee programs are more likely to resemble SBA's 7(a) program, than its other programs.

This report synthesizes the findings, conclusions, and policy recommendations derived from six reports generated by our evaluation of SBA's 7(a) Loan Guaranty, CDC 504 Loan, MicroLoan, and SBIC programs. The various studies were conducted to address three key research questions of particular interest to SBA and its constituents: 1) Does SBA assistance help the firms that receive it? 2) To what extent does SBA assistance serve its market? 3) Do SBA programs duplicate or overlap with other public sector programs?

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