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9/9/2022

Treasury Approves Four Additional State Plans to Support Underserved Entrepreneurs and Small Business Growth Throu…

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Treasury Approves Four Additional State Plans to Support
Underserved Entrepreneurs and Small Business Growth
Through the State Small Business Credit Initiative
August 19, 2022

Colorado, Oregon, New York, and Montana are approved for $750 million to support
investments in small business

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced an additional group of
four state plans approved under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) for up to
$750 million in funds to expand access to capital for small businesses. Treasury has announced
more than $2.25 billion in funding approvals to promote small business growth through SSBCI.
The American Rescue Plan reauthorized and expanded SSBCI, which was originally established
in 2010 and was highly successful in increasing access to capital for traditionally underserved
small businesses and entrepreneurs. The new SSBCI builds on this successful model by
providing nearly $10 billion to states, the District of Columbia, territories, and Tribal
governments to increase access to capital and promote entrepreneurship, especially in
traditionally underserved communities as they emerge from the pandemic. SSBCI funding is
expected to catalyze up to $10 of private investment for every $1 of SSBCI capital funding,
amplifying the e ects of this funding and providing small business owners with the resources
they need to sustainably grow and thrive. State governments submitted plans to Treasury for
how they will use their SSBCI allocation to provide funding to small businesses, including
through venture capital programs, loan participation programs, loan guarantee programs,
collateral support programs, and capital access programs.
“This is an historic investment in entrepreneurship, small business growth, and innovation
through the American Rescue Plan that will help reduce barriers to capital access for
traditionally underserved communities,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “Iʼm
excited to see how SSBCI funds will promote equitable economic growth across the country.”
A White House report

released in June found that more Americans are starting new

businesses than ever before. In 2021, Americans applied to start 5.4 million new businesses –
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9/9/2022

Treasury Approves Four Additional State Plans to Support Underserved Entrepreneurs and Small Business Growth Throu…

20% more than any other year on record. It also found that small businesses are creating
more jobs than ever before, with businesses with fewer than 50 workers creating 1.9 million
jobs in the first three quarters of 2021 – the highest rate of small business job creation ever
recorded in a single year. The investments being made through SSBCI are a key part of the
Biden Administrationʼs strategy to keep this small business boom going by expanding access
to capital and by providing entrepreneurs the resources they need to succeed. The work
Treasury has done through the implementation process to ensure SSBCI funds reach
traditionally underserved small businesses and entrepreneurs will also be critical to ensuring
the small business boom not only continues but also continues to li up communities
disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Treasury intends to continue approving state
plans on a rolling basis.
These recipients under the SSBCI program plan to target key industries and small businesses
in need of access to capital, including support for underserved businesses seeking contracting
opportunities, which aligns with the Biden-Harris Administrationʼs focus on advancing equity
though federal procurement in the wake of the passage of the historic Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law.
The following descriptions highlight some of the key programs that Treasury has approved for
these states:
Colorado

, approved for up to $104.7 million, will operate three programs, including a

venture capital program, to which it has allocated nearly $60 million. The program expects
to invest in two venture capital funds per year for three years to build a diverse seedstage portfolio of small businesses in need of capital. Colorado has also allocated $35
million to an existing cash collateral support program that enables small businesses and
non-profit organizations to secure credit by pledging a cash deposit as collateral. In
addition, Colorado has set aside $10 million for a loan program intended to help Main
Street businesses recover from the pandemic.
Montana

, approved for up to $61.3 million, will operate a loan participation program

modeled a er a successful program in the previous iteration of SSBCI. This new program
is designed to significantly increase the number of eligible CDFI and non-profit local
economic development agencies with revolving loan funds (RLFs) that can participate in
the program, to obtain a much broader outreach for targeting underserved markets. In
addition, this program gives rural and Native American entrepreneurs greater opportunity

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Treasury Approves Four Additional State Plans to Support Underserved Entrepreneurs and Small Business Growth Throu…

to create new businesses and expand existing small businesses — creating jobs and
economic opportunities in Montanaʼs rural counties and Indian Country.
New York

, approved for up to $501.5 million, will operate multiple programs, including

a capital access program, loan guarantee programs, loan participation programs, and
venture capital programs. For example, New York has allocated over $154 million to a
program that provide equity support to small businesses by investing through private
venture capital funds and accelerator funds. This program will provide capital support to
funds with diverse and emerging fund managers and teams. In addition, New York has
allocated funds to two programs designed to help small and underserved businesses
compete for government contracts, which may include projects funded by the Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law. As part of these e orts, New York will expand an existing program that
saw a significant majority of its support for potential contractors going to minority- and
women-owned businesses.
Oregon

, approved for up to $83.5 million, will operate five programs, including two

venture capital programs to which the state has allocated $30 million. The venture capital
programs are designed to invest in funds in need of additional capital to launch and scale
and to make co-investments in companies alongside private investors by matching the
lead investorʼs structure and terms. Across its programs, Oregonʼs plan aims to counter
systemic barriers to economic opportunity by providing access to capital in persistently
underserved, low- and moderate-income areas and rural communities. Oregon expects
these programs to be self-sustaining, providing vital support to small business in Oregon
now and over the long term.

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