The Small Business Administration released "lender guidelines" yesterday for the America’s Recovery Capital (ARC) Loan Program. While the program was announced back in May, details on the $35,000 interest-free, deferred-payment loans are only now available.
I was on the phone with Eric Zarnikow, Associate Administrator for Capital Access, the SBA department overseeing the ARC loan program, and he told me that, "Borrowers can begin applying for these loans beginning June 15, per the Administrator's May 18 comments. We estimate that the SBA, through our lenders, will be able to provide about 10,000 ARC loans to small businesses across the country."
You can read my article with more details on these loans on Entrepeneur.com.
What are ARC Loans?
ARC loans will be made for up to $35,000 and available to established, viable, for-profit small businesses suffering "immediate financial hardship" in order to provide some temporary financial relief so they can keep their doors open and put their cash flow back on track. It is intended for businesses that need short-term help to make their principal and interest payments on existing qualifying debt (including conventional loans, credit card obligations, notes owed to suppliers and utilities).
So what exactly is a "Viable business?"
Zarnikow says the SBA defines this as "a for-profit business with evidence of profitability or positive cash flow in at least one of the past two years."
How does the SBA define "immediate financial hardship"
The SBA is requiring businesses to show evidence of a "change in the financial condition" such as declining sales, frozen credit lines, difficulty meeting payroll, paying rent or difficulty making loan payments. The lender must analyze and confirm that a hardship exists.
How do ARC loans work?
The loans are 100 percent guaranteed by the SBA and made by existing SBA 7(a) lenders. They have no SBA or lender fees associated with them (unless the lender must secure collateral as part of the loan). The disbursement period (up to six months) is followed by a 12- month deferral period with no repayment of principal. After the deferral period, the borrower pays back only the ARC Loan principal over a five year period. ARC loans are available through SBA-approved lenders as long as funding is available or through September 30, 2010.
Mark Deo will help to guide you through the loan process
I have spent a great deal of time discussing these programs with officials at the SBA, as well as proving insight to some of the most influential business publications in America, including Entrepreneur Magazine. As a reader of my business update, I am more than happy to share this information with you- all I ask is that you purchase a copy of my new book, The Rules of Attraction. If you have a copy of my book, and you want to get my insight on how your business may be able to obtain an ARC loan, please send an e-mail to mark@markdeo.com and include your name and phone number. I will personally call you to help you assess your prospects of obtaining one of these loans.
Click here to purchase my book from Amazon.com. Remember that 100% of the profits from my book go to the charity Habitat for Humanity.
Thank you, and have a great week!