Cindi Carter, Director of the Small Business Administration office at the UCO location in Edmond was our speaker at the Oct. 2nd meeting. The SBA has been assisting small businesses start, grow and succeed for over 65 years. They remain committed to helping entrepreneurs access capital, government contracts, counseling, and disaster assistance.
The SBA partners with over 300 SCORE chapters, 100 Women's Business Centers, 980 Small Business Development Centers, and 20 Veterans Centers to provide coverage for every phase of the business cycle. Through counseling and training, for free or at low cost, these organizations put expertise for obtaining loans and grants and developing business plans in the hands of small business owners. SBA Loans are beneficial to the owner because they are typically at very competitive rates, spread over longer terms and have lower up front equity requirements than conventional loans. The failure rate of the SBA loan is extremely low and are highly desirable in the aftermarket.
More information on working with the SBA to launch your small business can be obtained at www.SBA.gov