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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Treasury Department Announces Approval of Up to $86 Million to
Support Small Business Success in Mississippi as Part of President
Biden’s Investing in America Agenda
June 28, 2023

Plans for over $8 billion in State Small Business Credit Initiative funding have been approved to
support small business and entrepreneurship in communities across the nation

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the approval of
Mississippi’s state plan for up to $86 million in funding under the American Rescue Plan’s State
Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The
Treasury Department has now announced the approval of state, territory, and Tribal government
plans corresponding to over $8 billion in SSBCI funding to support small business and
entrepreneurship and expand access to capital.

“Support for small business growth and access to capital is a key component of President Biden’s
Investing in America agenda,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. “The State
Small Business Credit Initiative is helping to unlock the potential of entrepreneurs in underserved
communities in Mississippi and across the nation who may have otherwise never had the support
needed to pursue their business ideas and ambitions.”
The American Rescue Plan reauthorized and expanded SSBCI, which was originally established in
2010 and was highly successful in increasing access to capital for 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. This includes $2.5 billion in funding and incentives to support
underserved businesses. SSBCI funding is expected to catalyze up to $10 of private investment for
every $1 of SSBCI capital funding, amplifying the effects of this funding and providing small
business owners with the resources they need to sustainably grow and thrive.

Mississippi, approved for up to $86 million, will operate four programs: a loan participation
program, a loan guarantee program, and two equity/venture capital programs. Mississippi
allocated $45 million to the Mississippi CDFI Small Business Loan Fund, a loan participation
program that will provide funds in the form of a loan to CDFIs to support lending to Mississippi
small businesses. Mississippi allocated $15 million to the Mississippi Venture Capital Program, a
program that will provide equity support to small businesses by investing in venture capital funds
that support startups, and $11 million to a program that will directly invest in startups, particularly
those in the manufacturing and supply chain sectors. In addition, the state will operate a $15
million loan guarantee program that will provide guarantees of up to 80% and is focused on
expanding access to capital for underserved small businesses.
SSBCI investments are a key part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s strategy to strengthen the
small business boom we've seen since the start of this Administration by expanding access to
capital and by providing entrepreneurs the resources they need to succeed. In January, the Census
Bureau released data which showed that over the last two years Americans have applied to start
10.5 million new businesses, making 2021 and 2022 the strongest two years on record for new
business applications. Last month, the White House released a report card demonstrating acrossthe-board progress on commitments designed to maintain the nation’s historic momentum in
fostering new businesses that’s led to the small business boom seen over the last two years. The
investments being made through SSBCI are a key part of this 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 the Treasury Department has done through SSBCI’s implementation
process to help these funds reach traditionally underserved small businesses and entrepreneurs
will continue to be critical to ensuring the small business boom lifts up communities
disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

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