- Small Business Administration Microloan Program - Started by Congress in 1991, the Microloan program is designed to assist women, low-income, veteran, and minority entrepreneurs and small business owners by providing them small-scale loans for working capital or the acquisition of materials, supplies, or equipment.
- In FY2020, Microloan intermediaries provided 5,890 microloans totaling $85.0 million. The average Microloan was $14,434 and had a 6.5% interest rate. The program’s critics argue that it is expensive relative to alternative programs, duplicative of the SBA’s 7(a) loan guaranty program, and subject to administrative shortfalls. The program’s advocates argue that it assists many who are not served by the private sector and is an important source of capital and training assistance for low-income, women, and minority business owners. e Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which, among other provisions, appropriated $17 billion to pay the principal, interest, and any associated fees that are owed on an existing 7(a), 504/CDC, or Microloan that is in a regular servicing status for a six-month period starting on the next payment due date. the Microloan program’s estimated borrower default rate is about 7%. Microloans in FY2020 were most commonly used for working capital (80.3%), equipment (20.5%), materials (12.0%).
- Critics of the SBA’s Microloan program argue that it is duplicative of other available programs, expensive relative to alternative programs, and subject to administrative shortfalls. The program’s advocates argue that it provides assistance that “reaches many who otherwise would not be served. Also, it is expensive relative to other SBA programs, with total administrative costs of about $7,517 per small business assisted in FY2019, compared to $1,986 per small business assisted in the SBA’s 7(a) loan guarantee program.
- 2017, the SBA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) released an audit of the SBA’s administration of the Microloan program: (1) SBA’s oversight poor - didn't watch how funds were spent unless loan defaulted; inadequate program staffing; 12% default rate; duplicate loans and those in excess of upper loan limits; and no measurement of output performance.
- 2019, GAO examined the Microloan program and recommended that the SBA: Better advanced planning to determine what data is needed to evaluate performance; Define terms and instructions are comprehensive enough to collect data; develop performance targets; and consider interagency collaboration and information sharing.
Four SBA OIG recommendations:
(1) continue efforts to improve the information system to include outcome-based performance measurements and ensure the data captured can be used to effectively monitor the Microloan Program compliance, performance, and integrity; (2) develop and implement a site visit plan to comprehensively monitor microloan portfolio performance and ensure program results can be evaluated program-wide; (3) update the Microloan program’s SOP 52 00 A to clarify requirements regarding evidence for use of proceeds and credit elsewhere; and (4) update the microloan reporting system manual to reflect current technology capabilities.
Source: Small Business Administration Microloan Program
