【時報訊】美國經濟仍然處於復甦初期，一般銀行對貸款控制極嚴。中小企業目前十分不容易取得貸款，有鑑於此，聖路易經濟委員會1月8日宣佈一項名為BOOST之中小企業貸款專案，貸款人祗需付10%頭期款，銀行付50%之貨款，其餘40%由聖路易郡經濟委員會貸出。BOOST貸款上限一般為50萬元，可分20年固定利率或浮動利率(預付無罰款)方式定期償還。
聖路易郡郡長Charlie Dooley係在聖路易商業報年度會議中作此刺激經濟宣佈。BOOST貸款是美國中小企業管理局504貸款方案之替代方案，提供較少之限制，讓貸款人容易取得土地開發、建築、機器、設備等資金之用。
BOOST貸款計劃是由聖路易郡經濟委員會管理，該會自1981年起提供貸款，至今貸出項目多出中小企業管理局504貸款項目有440個之多，總貸款額高達一億四千七百萬元。
St. Louis County Creates Special Loan Program for Small Businesses
St. Louis, MO, January 8, 2010 - St. Louis County Economic Council has unveiled an innovative small business loan program that is deemed the first of its kind in the United States and will help boost lending for entrepreneurs.
Introduced by St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley at the St. Louis Business Journal's annual State of St. Louis address, BOOST is an alternative to the Small Business Administration's (SBA) 504 loan program, offering less restrictive requirements to borrowers seeking financing for the purchase or construction of land, buildings, machinery, and equipment within St. Louis County.
"With the credit crisis and small business owners having difficulty in obtaining financing, BOOST comes at an opportune time," said Dooley. "It provides borrowers with a viable option that's not hampered by bottlenecks, red tape and high costs. I believe that BOOST will serve as a model for similar programs nationwide."
Like the SBA 504 loan program, a borrower typically injects only 10 percent of the total loan amount; its bank lends 50 percent of the total project cost and St. Louis County Economic Council lends up to 40 percent. While there is no maximum project size, in most cases the maximum BOOST loan is $500,000 with up to a 20-year term. In addition to receiving up to 90 percent financing, borrowers have the option of a variable or fixed rate with no prepayment penalty for the floating rate.
"Borrowers will appreciate the added benefits BOOST provides such as having the choice of a floating or fixed interest rate," said Rick Palank, senior vice president for the Economic Council's Business Finance Division. "The program is unique not only in this option, but in its less restrictive requirements for net worth, income size and personal liquidity limits."
The BOOST loan program is administered by St. Louis County Economic Council's business finance staff. The Business Finance Corporation of St. Louis County, a 501(c)(6) organization, approves all loans and since 1981 has disbursed more than 440 SBA 504 loans representing over $147 million.
About St. Louis County Economic CouncilFounded in 1984, SLCEC is a not-for-profit economic development organization responsible for creating high-quality business and employment opportunities for long-term diversified growth throughout St. Louis County and region. SLCEC oversees several local and regional economic development programs including World Trade Center Saint Louis, various loan programs, small business incubators, business development and retention services, and community redevelopment. |
