The Administration is empowered to the extent and in such amounts as provided in advance in appropriation Acts to make loans for plant acquisition, construction, conversion, or expansion, including the acquisition of land, material, supplies, equipment, and working capital, and to make loans to any qualified small business concern, including those owned by qualified Indian tribes, for purposes of this chapter. Such financings may be made either directly or in cooperation with banks or other financial institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred (guaranteed) basis. These powers shall be subject, however, to the following restrictions, limitations, and provisions:

The Administrator has the authority to direct, and conduct oversight for, the methods by which lenders determine whether a borrower is able to obtain credit elsewhere. No financial assistance shall be extended pursuant to this subsection if the applicant can obtain credit elsewhere. No immediate participation may be purchased unless it is shown that a deferred participation is not available; and no direct financing may be made unless it is shown that a participation is not available.

(A) Credit elsewhere.— (i) In general.— The Administrator has the authority to direct, and conduct oversight for, the methods by which lenders determine whether a borrower is able to obtain credit elsewhere. No financial assistance shall be extended pursuant to this subsection if the applicant can obtain credit elsewhere. No immediate participation may be purchased unless it is shown that a deferred participation is not available; and no direct financing may be made unless it is shown that a participation is not available. (ii) Liquidity.— On and after October 1, 2015, the Administrator may not guarantee a loan under this subsection if the lender determines that the borrower is unable to obtain credit elsewhere solely because the liquidity of the lender depends upon the guaranteed portion of the loan being sold on the secondary market.

(B) Background checks.— Prior to the approval of any loan made pursuant to this subsection, or section 503 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 [15 U.S.C. 697], the Administrator may verify the applicant’s criminal background, or lack thereof, through the best available means, including, if possible, use of the National Crime Information Center computer system at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(C) Lending limits of lenders.— On and after October 1, 2015, the Administrator may not guarantee a loan under this subsection if the sole purpose for requesting the guarantee is to allow the lender to exceed the legal lending limit of the lender.

Except as provided in subparagraphs (B), (D), and (E), in an agreement to participate in a loan on a deferred basis under this subsection (including a loan made under the Preferred Lenders Program), such participation by the Administration shall be equal to—

(A) In general.—Except as provided in subparagraphs (B), (D), and (E), in an agreement to participate in a loan on a deferred basis under this subsection (including a loan made under the Preferred Lenders Program), such participation by the Administration shall be equal to— (i) 75 percent of the balance of the financing outstanding at the time of disbursement of the loan, if such balance exceeds $150,000; or (ii) 85 percent of the balance of the financing outstanding at the time of disbursement of the loan, if such balance is less than or equal to $150,000.

(B) Reduced participation upon request.— (i) In general.— The guarantee percentage specified by subparagraph (A) for any loan under this subsection may be reduced upon the request of the participating lender. (ii) Prohibition.— The Administration shall not use the guarantee percentage requested by a participating lender under clause (i) as a criterion for establishing priorities in approving loan guarantee requests under this subsection.

(C) Interest rate under preferred lenders program.— (i) In general.— The maximum interest rate for a loan guaranteed under the Preferred Lenders Program shall not exceed the maximum interest rate, as determined by the Administration, applicable to other loans guaranteed under this subsection. (ii) Export-import bank lenders.— Any lender that is participating in the Delegated Authority Lender Program of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (or any successor to the Program) shall be eligible to participate in the Preferred Lenders Program. (iii) Preferred lenders program defined.—For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “Preferred Lenders Program” means any program established by the Administrator, as authorized under the proviso in section 634(b)(7) of this title, under which a written agreement between the lender and the Administration delegates to the lender— (I) complete authority to make and close loans with a guarantee from the Administration without obtaining the prior specific approval of the Administration; and (II) complete authority to service and liquidate such loans without obtaining the prior specific approval of the Administration for routine servicing and liquidation activities, but shall not take any actions creating an actual or apparent conflict of interest.

(D) Participation under export working capital program.— In an agreement to participate in a loan on a deferred basis under the Export Working Capital Program established pursuant to paragraph (14)(A), such participation by the Administration shall be 90 percent.

(E) Participation in international trade loan.— In an agreement to participate in a loan on a deferred basis under paragraph (16), the participation by the Administration may not exceed 90 percent.

No loan shall be made under this subsection—

(A) if the total amount outstanding and committed (by participation or otherwise) to the borrower from the business loan and investment fund established by this chapter would exceed $3,750,000 (or if the gross loan amount would exceed $5,000,000), except as provided in subparagraph (B);

(B) if the total amount outstanding and committed (on a deferred basis) solely for the purposes provided in paragraph (16) to the borrower from the business loan and investment fund established by this chapter would exceed $4,500,000 (or if the gross loan amount would exceed $5,000,000), of which not more than $4,000,000 may be used for working capital, supplies, or financings under paragraph (14) for export purposes; and

(C) if effected either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate basis if the amount would exceed $350,000.

A borrower who prepays any loan guaranteed under this subsection shall remit to the Administration a subsidy recoupment fee calculated in accordance with clause (ii) if—

(A) Interest rates.— Notwithstanding the provisions of the constitution of any State or the laws of any State limiting the rate or amount of interest which may be charged, taken, received, or reserved, the maximum legal rate of interest on any financing made on a deferred basis pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed a rate prescribed by the Administration, and the rate of interest for the Administration’s share of any direct or immediate participation loan shall not exceed the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the average maturities of such loans and adjusted to the nearest one-eighth of 1 per centum, and an additional amount as determined by the Administration, but not to exceed 1 per centum per annum: Provided, That for those loans to assist any public or private organization for the handicapped or to assist any handicapped individual as provided in paragraph (10) of this subsection, the interest rate shall be 3 per centum per annum.

(B) Payment of accrued interest.— (i) In general.— Any bank or other lending institution making a claim for payment on the guaranteed portion of a loan made under this subsection shall be paid the accrued interest due on the loan from the earliest date of default to the date of payment of the claim at a rate not to exceed the rate of interest on the loan on the date of default, minus one percent. (ii) Loans sold on secondary market.— If a loan described in clause (i) is sold on the secondary market, the amount of interest paid to a bank or other lending institution described in that clause from the earliest date of default to the date of payment of the claim shall be no more than the agreed upon rate, minus one percent. (iii) Applicability.— Clauses (i) and (ii) shall not apply to loans made on or after October 1, 2000.

(C) Prepayment charges (i) In general.—A borrower who prepays any loan guaranteed under this subsection shall remit to the Administration a subsidy recoupment fee calculated in accordance with clause (ii) if— (I) the loan is for a term of not less than 15 years; (II) the prepayment is voluntary; (III) the amount of prepayment in any calendar year is more than 25 percent of the outstanding balance of the loan; and (IV) the prepayment is made within the first 3 years after disbursement of the loan proceeds. (ii) Subsidy recoupment fee.—The subsidy recoupment fee charged under clause (i) shall be— (I) 5 percent of the amount of prepayment, if the borrower prepays during the first year after disbursement; (II) 3 percent of the amount of prepayment, if the borrower prepays during the second year after disbursement; and (III) 1 percent of the amount of prepayment, if the borrower prepays during the third year after disbursement.

(5) No such loans including renewals and extensions thereof may be made for a period or periods exceeding twenty-five years, except that such portion of a loan made for the purpose of acquiring real property or constructing, converting, or expanding facilities may have a maturity of twenty-five years plus such additional period as is estimated may be required to complete such construction, conversion, or expansion.

All loans made under this subsection shall be of such sound value or so secured as reasonably to assure repayment: Provided, however, That—

(A) for loans to assist any public or private organization or to assist any handicapped individual as provided in paragraph (10) of this subsection any reasonable doubt shall be resolved in favor of the applicant;

(B) recognizing that greater risk may be associated with loans for energy measures as provided in paragraph (12) of this subsection, factors in determining “sound value” shall include, but not be limited to, quality of the product or service; technical qualifications of the applicant or his employees; sales projections; and the financial status of the business concern: Provided further, That such status need not be as sound as that required for general loans under this subsection; and [1]

(C) Repealed. Pub. L. 97–35, title XIX, § 1910, Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 778.

(7) The Administration may defer payments on the principal of such loans for a grace period and use such other methods as it deems necessary and appropriate to assure the successful establishment and operation of such concern.

(8) The Administration may make loans under this subsection to small business concerns owned and controlled by disabled veterans (as defined in section 4211(3) of title 38).

(9) The Administration may provide loans under this subsection to finance residential or commercial construction or rehabilitation for sale: Provided, however, That such loans shall not be used primarily for the acquisition of land.

(10) The Administration may provide guaranteed loans under this subsection to assist any public or private organization for the handicapped or to assist any handicapped individual, including service-disabled veterans, in establishing, acquiring, or operating a small business concern.

(11) The Administration may provide loans under this subsection to any small business concern, or to any qualified person seeking to establish such a concern when it determines that such loan will further the policies established in section 631(c) [2] of this title, with particular emphasis on the preservation or establishment of small business concerns located in urban or rural areas with high proportions of unemployed or low-income individuals or owned by low-income individuals.

The Administration may provide loans under this subsection to assist any small business concern, including start up, to enable such concern to design architecturally or engineer, manufacture, distribute, market, install, or service energy measures: Provided, however, That such loan proceeds shall not be used primarily for research and development.

(A) The Administration may provide loans under this subsection to assist any small business concern, including start up, to enable such concern to design architecturally or engineer, manufacture, distribute, market, install, or service energy measures: Provided, however, That such loan proceeds shall not be used primarily for research and development.

 [3] The Administration may provide deferred participation loans under this subsection to finance the planning, design, or installation of pollution control facilities for the purposes set forth in section 404 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 [15 U.S.C. 694–1]. Notwithstanding the limitation expressed in paragraph (3) of this subsection, a loan made under this paragraph may not result in a total amount outstanding and committed to a borrower from the business loan and investment fund of more than $1,000,000.

(13)   The  Administration  may  provide  fi­nancings under this subsection to State and local development companies for the purposes of, and subject to the restrictions in, title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 [15 U.S.C. 695 et seq.].

The Administrator may provide extensions of credit, standby letters of credit, revolving lines of credit for export purposes, and other financing to enable small business concerns, including small business export trading companies and small business export management companies, to develop foreign markets. A bank or participating lending institution may establish the rate of interest on such financings as may be legal and reasonable.

(A) In general.— The Administrator may provide extensions of credit, standby letters of credit, revolving lines of credit for export purposes, and other financing to enable small business concerns, including small business export trading companies and small business export management companies, to develop foreign markets. A bank or participating lending institution may establish the rate of interest on such financings as may be legal and reasonable.

(B) Terms.— (i) Loan amount.— The Administrator may not guarantee a loan under this paragraph of more than $5,000,000. (ii) Fees.— (I) In general.— For a loan under this paragraph, the Administrator shall collect the fee assessed under paragraph (23) not more frequently than once each year. (II) Untapped credit.— The Administrator may not assess a fee on capital that is not accessed by the small business concern.

(C) Considerations.— When considering loan or guarantee applications, the Administration shall give weight to export-related benefits, including opening new markets for United States goods and services abroad and encouraging the involvement of small businesses, including agricultural concerns, in the export market.

(D) Marketing.— The Administrator shall aggressively market its export financing program to small businesses.

The Administration may guarantee loans under this subsection—

(A) The Administration may guarantee loans under this subsection— (i) to qualified employee trusts with respect to a small business concern for the purpose of purchasing, and for any transaction costs associated with purchasing, stock of the concern under a plan approved by the Administrator which, when carried out, results in the qualified employee trust owning at least 51 per centum of the stock of the concern; and (ii) to a small business concern under a plan approved by the Administrator, if the proceeds from the loan are only used to make a loan to a qualified employee trust, and for any transaction costs associated with making that loan, that results in the qualified employee trust owning at least 51 percent of the small business concern.

(B) The plan requiring the Administrator’s approval under subparagraph (A) shall be submitted to the Administration by the trustee of such trust or by the small business concern with its application for the guarantee. Such plan shall include an agreement with the Administrator which is binding on such trust and on the small business concern and which provides that— (i) not later than the date the loan guaranteed under subparagraph (A) is repaid (or as soon thereafter as is consistent with the requirements of section 401(a) of title 26), at least 51 per centum of the total stock of such concern shall be allocated to the accounts of at least 51 per centum of the employees of such concern who are entitled to share in such allocation, (ii) there will be periodic reviews of the role in the management of such concern of employees to whose accounts stock is allocated, (iii) there will be adequate management to assure management expertise and continuity, and (iv) with respect to a loan made to a trust, or to a cooperative in accordance with paragraph (35)— (I) a seller of the small business concern may remain involved as an officer, director, or key employee of the small business concern when a qualified employee trust or cooperative has acquired 100 percent of ownership of the small business concern; and (II) any seller of the small business concern who remains as an owner of the small business concern, regardless of the percentage of ownership interest, shall be required to provide a personal guarantee by the Administration.

(C) In determining whether to guarantee any loan under this paragraph, the individual business experience or personal assets of employee-owners shall not be used as criteria, except inasmuch as certain employee-owners may assume managerial responsibilities, in which case business experience may be considered.

(D) For purposes of this paragraph, a corporation which is controlled by any other person shall be treated as a small business concern if such corporation would, after the plan described in subparagraph (B) is carried out, be treated as a small business concern.

(E) The Administration shall compile a separate list of applications for assistance under this paragraph, indicating which applications were accepted and which were denied, and shall report periodically to the Congress on the status of employee-owned firms assisted by the Administration, which shall include— (i) the total number of loans made to employee-owned business concerns that were guaranteed by the Administrator under this subsection or section 502 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 696), including the number of loans made— (I) to small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; and (II) to cooperatives; (ii) the total number of financings made to employee-owned business concerns by companies licensed under section 301(c) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 696(c)) [15 U.S.C. 681(c)], including the number of financings made— (I) to small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; and (II) to cooperatives; and (iii) any outreach and educational activities conducted by the Administration with respect to employee-owned business concerns.

(F) A small business concern that makes a loan to a qualified employee trust under subparagraph (A)(ii) is not required to contain the same terms and conditions as the loan made to the small business concern that is guaranteed by the Administration under such subparagraph.

(G) With respect to a loan made to a qualified employee trust under this paragraph, or to a cooperative in accordance with paragraph (35), the Administrator may, as deemed appropriate, elect to not require any mandatory equity to be provided by the qualified employee trust or cooperative to make the loan.

If the Administrator determines that a loan guaranteed under this subsection will allow an eligible small business concern that is engaged in or adversely affected by international trade to improve its competitive position, the Administrator may make such loan to assist such concern—

(A) In general.—If the Administrator determines that a loan guaranteed under this subsection will allow an eligible small business concern that is engaged in or adversely affected by international trade to improve its competitive position, the Administrator may make such loan to assist such concern— (i) in the financing of the acquisition, construction, renovation, modernization, improvement, or expansion of productive facilities or equipment to be used in the United States in the production of goods and services involved in international trade; (ii) in the refinancing of existing indebtedness that is not structured with reasonable terms and conditions, including any debt that qualifies for refinancing under any other provision of this subsection; or (iii) by providing working capital.

(B) Security.— (i) In general.— Except as provided in clause (ii), each loan made under this paragraph shall be secured by a first lien position or first mortgage on the property or equipment financed by the loan or on other assets of the small business concern. (ii) Exception.— A loan under this paragraph may be secured by a second lien position on the property or equipment financed by the loan or on other assets of the small business concern, if the Administrator determines the lien provides adequate assurance of the payment of the loan.

(C) Engaged in international trade.— For purposes of this paragraph, a small business concern is engaged in international trade if, as determined by the Administrator, the small business concern is in a position to expand existing export markets or develop new export markets.

(D) Adversely affected by international trade.—For purposes of this paragraph, a small business concern is adversely affected by international trade if, as determined by the Administrator, the small business concern— (i) is confronting increased competition with foreign firms in the relevant market; and (ii) is injured by such competition.

(E) Findings by certain federal agencies.— For purposes of subparagraph (D)(ii) the Administrator shall accept any finding of injury by the International Trade Commission or any finding of injury by the Secretary of Commerce pursuant to chapter 3 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 [19 U.S.C. 2341 et seq.].

(F) List of export finance lenders.— (i) Publication of list required.—The Administrator shall publish an annual list of the banks and participating lending institutions that, during the 1-year period ending on the date of publication of the list, have made loans guaranteed by the Administration under— (I) this paragraph; (II) paragraph (14); or (III) paragraph (34). (ii) Availability of list.—The Administrator shall— (I) post the list published under clause (i) on the website of the Administration; and (II) make the list published under clause (i) available, upon request, at each district office of the Administration.

(17) The Administration shall authorize lending institutions and other entities in addition to banks to make loans authorized under this subsection.

With respect to each loan guaranteed under this subsection (other than a loan that is repayable in 1 year or less), the Administration shall collect a guarantee fee, which shall be payable by the participating lender, and may be charged to the borrower, as follows:

(A) In general.—With respect to each loan guaranteed under this subsection (other than a loan that is repayable in 1 year or less), the Administration shall collect a guarantee fee, which shall be payable by the participating lender, and may be charged to the borrower, as follows: (i) A guarantee fee not to exceed 2 percent of the deferred participation share of a total loan amount that is not more than $150,000. (ii) A guarantee fee not to exceed 3 percent of the deferred participation share of a total loan amount that is more than $150,000, but not more than $700,000. (iii) A guarantee fee not to exceed 3.5 percent of the deferred participation share of a total loan amount that is more than $700,000. (iv) In addition to the fee under clause (iii), a guarantee fee equal to 0.25 percent of any portion of the deferred participation share that is more than $1,000,000.

(B) Retention of certain fees.— Lenders participating in the programs established under this subsection may retain not more than 25 percent of a fee collected under subparagraph (A)(i).

In addition to the Preferred Lenders Program authorized by the proviso in section 634(b)(7) of this title, the Administration is authorized to establish a Certified Lenders Program for lenders who establish their knowledge of Administration laws and regulations concerning the guaranteed loan program and their proficiency in program requirements. The designation of a lender as a certified lender shall be suspended or revoked at any time that the Administration determines that the lender is not adhering to its rules and regulations or that the loss experience of the lender is excessive as compared to other lenders, but such suspension or revocation shall not affect any outstanding guarantee.

(A) In addition to the Preferred Lenders Program authorized by the proviso in section 634(b)(7) of this title, the Administration is authorized to establish a Certified Lenders Program for lenders who establish their knowledge of Administration laws and regulations concerning the guaranteed loan program and their proficiency in program requirements. The designation of a lender as a certified lender shall be suspended or revoked at any time that the Administration determines that the lender is not adhering to its rules and regulations or that the loss experience of the lender is excessive as compared to other lenders, but such suspension or revocation shall not affect any outstanding guarantee.

(B) In order to encourage all lending institutions and other entities making loans authorized under this subsection to provide loans of $50,000 or less in guarantees to eligible small business loan applicants, the Administration shall develop and allow participating lenders to solely utilize a uniform and simplified loan form for such loans.

(C) Authority to liquidate loans.— (i) In general.— The Administrator may permit lenders participating in the Certified Lenders Program to liquidate loans made with a guarantee from the Administration pursuant to a liquidation plan approved by the Administrator. (ii) Automatic approval.— If the Administrator does not approve or deny a request for approval of a liquidation plan within 10 business days of the date on which the request is made (or with respect to any routine liquidation activity under such a plan, within 5 business days) such request shall be deemed to be approved.

The Administration is empowered to make loans either directly or in cooperation with banks or other financial institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred (guaranteed) basis to small business concerns eligible for assistance under subsection (j)(10) and section 637(a) of this title. Such assistance may be provided only if the Administration determines that—

(A) The Administration is empowered to make loans either directly or in cooperation with banks or other financial institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred (guaranteed) basis to small business concerns eligible for assistance under subsection (j)(10) and section 637(a) of this title. Such assistance may be provided only if the Administration determines that— (i) the type and amount of such assistance requested by such concern is not otherwise available on reasonable terms from other sources; (ii) with such assistance such concern has a reasonable prospect for operating soundly and profitably within a reasonable period of time; (iii) the proceeds of such assistance will be used within a reasonable time for plant construction, conversion, or expansion, including the acquisition of equipment, facilities, machinery, supplies, or material or to supply such concern with working capital to be used in the manufacture of articles, equipment, supplies, or material for defense or civilian production or as may be necessary to insure a well-balanced national economy; and (iv) such assistance is of such sound value as reasonably to assure that the terms under which it is provided will not be breached by the small business concern.

(B) (i) No loan shall be made under this paragraph if the total amount outstanding and committed (by participation or otherwise) to the borrower would exceed $750,000. (ii) Subject to the provisions of clause (i), in agreements to participate in loans on a deferred (guaranteed) basis, participation by the Administration shall be not less than 85 per centum of the balance of the financing outstanding at the time of disbursement. (iii) The rate of interest on financings made on a deferred (guaranteed) basis shall be legal and reasonable. (iv) Financings made pursuant to this paragraph shall be subject to the following limitations: (I) No immediate participation may be purchased unless it is shown that a deferred participation is not available. (II) No direct financing may be made unless it is shown that a participation is unavailable.

(C) A direct loan or the Administration’s share of an immediate participation loan made pursuant to this paragraph shall be any secured debt instrument— (i) that is subordinated by its terms to all other borrowings of the issuer; (ii) the rate of interest on which shall not exceed the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the average maturities of such loan and adjusted to the nearest one-eighth of 1 per centum; (iii) the term of which is not more than twenty-five years; and (iv) the principal on which is amortized at such rate as may be deemed appropriate by the Administration, and the interest on which is payable not less often than annually.

The Administration may make loans on a guaranteed basis under the authority of this subsection—

(A) The Administration may make loans on a guaranteed basis under the authority of this subsection— (i) to a small business concern that has been (or can reasonably be expected to be) detrimentally affected by— (I) the closure (or substantial reduction) of a Department of Defense installation; or (II) the termination (or substantial reduction) of a Department of Defense program on which such small business was a prime contractor or subcontractor (or supplier) at any tier; or (ii) to a qualified individual or a veteran seeking to establish (or acquire) and operate a small business concern.

(B) Recognizing that greater risk may be associated with a loan to a small business concern described in subparagraph (A)(i), any reasonable doubts concerning the firm’s proposed business plan for transition to nondefense-related markets shall be resolved in favor of the loan applicant when making any determination regarding the sound value of the proposed loan in accordance with paragraph (6).

(C) Loans pursuant to this paragraph shall be authorized in such amounts as provided in advance in appropriation Acts for the purposes of loans under this paragraph.

(D) For purposes of this paragraph a qualified individual is— (i) a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, honorably discharged from active duty involuntarily or pursuant to a program providing bonuses or other inducements to encourage voluntary separation or early retirement; (ii) a civilian employee of the Department of Defense involuntarily separated from Federal service or retired pursuant to a program offering inducements to encourage early retirement; or (iii) an employee of a prime contractor, subcontractor, or supplier at any tier of a Department of Defense program whose employment is involuntarily terminated (or voluntarily terminated pursuant to a program offering inducements to encourage voluntary separation or early retirement) due to the termination (or substantial reduction) of a Department of Defense program.

(E) Job creation and community benefit.—In providing assistance under this paragraph, the Administration shall develop procedures to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that such assistance is used for projects that— (i) have the greatest potential for— (I) creating new jobs for individuals whose employment is involuntarily terminated due to reductions in Federal defense expenditures; or (II) preventing the loss of jobs by employees of small business concerns described in subparagraph (A)(i); and (ii) have substantial potential for stimulating new economic activity in communities most affected by reductions in Federal defense expenditures.

(22) The Administration is authorized to permit participating lenders to impose and collect a reasonable penalty fee on late payments of loans guaranteed under this subsection in an amount not to exceed 5 percent of the monthly loan payment per month plus interest.

If the Administration determines that fees paid by lenders and by small business borrowers for guarantees under this subsection may be reduced, consistent with reducing to zero the cost to the Administration of making such guarantees—

(A) In general.— With respect to each loan approved under this subsection, the Administration shall assess, collect, and retain a fee, not to exceed 0.55 percent per year of the outstanding balance of the deferred participation share of the loan, in an amount established once annually by the Administration in the Administration’s annual budget request to Congress, as necessary to reduce to zero the cost to the Administration of making guarantees under this subsection. As used in this paragraph, the term “cost” has the meaning given that term in section 661a of title 2.

(B) Payer.— The yearly fee assessed under subparagraph (A) shall be payable by the participating lender and shall not be charged to the borrower.

(C) Lowering of borrower fees.—If the Administration determines that fees paid by lenders and by small business borrowers for guarantees under this subsection may be reduced, consistent with reducing to zero the cost to the Administration of making such guarantees— (i) the Administration shall first consider reducing fees paid by small business borrowers under clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph (18)(A), to the maximum extent possible; and (ii) fees paid by small business borrowers shall not be increased above the levels in effect on December 8, 2004.

(24) Notification requirement.— The Administration shall notify the Committees on Small Business of the Senate and the House of Representatives not later than 15 days before making any significant policy or administrative change affecting the operation of the loan program under this subsection.

Not more than 10 percent of the total number of loans guaranteed in any fiscal year under this subsection may be awarded as part of a pilot program which is commenced by the Administrator on or after October 1, 1996.

(A) In general.— Not more than 10 percent of the total number of loans guaranteed in any fiscal year under this subsection may be awarded as part of a pilot program which is commenced by the Administrator on or after October 1, 1996.

(B) “Pilot program” defined.— In this paragraph, the term ‘pilot program’ means any lending program initiative, project, innovation, or other activity not specifically authorized by law.

(C) Low documentation loan program.— The Administrator may carry out the low documentation loan program for loans of $100,000 or less only through lenders with significant experience in making small business loans. Not later than 90 days after September 30, 1996, the Administrator shall promulgate regulations defining the experience necessary for participation as a lender in the low documentation loan program.

(26) Calculation of subsidy rate.— All fees, interest, and profits received and retained by the Administration under this subsection shall be included in the calculations made by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to offset the cost (as that term is defined in section 661a of title 2) to the Administration of purchasing and guaranteeing loans under this chapter.

(27) Repealed. Pub. L. 106–8, § 3(c), Apr. 2, 1999, 113 Stat. 16.

(28) Leasing.— In addition to such other lease arrangements as may be authorized by the Administration, a borrower may permanently lease to one or more tenants not more than 20 percent of any property constructed with the proceeds of a loan guaranteed under this subsection, if the borrower permanently occupies and uses not less than 60 percent of the total business space in the property.

With respect to a loan under this subsection that is secured by commercial real property, an appraisal of such property by a State licensed or certified appraiser—

(A) In general.—With respect to a loan under this subsection that is secured by commercial real property, an appraisal of such property by a State licensed or certified appraiser— (i) shall be required by the Administration in connection with any such loan, if such loan is in an amount greater than the Federal banking regulator appraisal threshold; or (ii) may be required by the Administration or the lender in connection with any such loan, if such loan is in an amount equal to or less than the Federal banking regulator appraisal threshold, if such appraisal is necessary for appropriate evaluation of creditworthiness.

(B) Federal banking regulator appraisal threshold defined.— For purposes of this paragraph, the term “Federal banking regulator appraisal threshold” means the lesser of the threshold amounts set by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for when a federally related transaction that is a commercial real estate transaction requires an appraisal prepared by a State licensed or certified appraiser.

(30) Ownership requirements.— Ownership requirements to determine the eligibility of a small business concern that applies for assistance under any credit program under this chapter shall be determined without regard to any ownership interest of a spouse arising solely from the application of the community property laws of a State for purposes of determining marital interests.

As used in this paragraph:

(A) Definitions.—As used in this paragraph: (i) The term “disaster area” means the area for which the President has declared a major disaster, during the 5-year period beginning on the date of the declaration. (ii) The term “express lender” means any lender authorized by the Administration to participate in the Express Loan Program. (iii) The term “express loan” means any loan made pursuant to this paragraph in which a lender utilizes to the maximum extent practicable its own loan analyses, procedures, and documentation. (iv) The term “Express Loan Program” means the program for express loans established by the Administration under paragraph (25)(B), as in existence on April 5, 2004, with a guaranty rate of not more than 50 percent.

(B) Restriction to express lender.— The authority to make an express loan shall be limited to those lenders deemed qualified to make such loans by the Administration. Designation as an express lender for purposes of making an express loan shall not prohibit such lender from taking any other action authorized by the Administration for that lender pursuant to this subsection.

(C) Grandfathering of existing lenders.— Any express lender shall retain such designation unless the Administration determines that the express lender has violated the law or regulations promulgated by the Administration or modifies the requirements to be an express lender and the lender no longer satisfies those requirements.

(D) Maximum loan amount.— The maximum loan amount under the Express Loan Program is $350,000.

(E) Option to participate.— Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the Administration shall take no regulatory, policy, or administrative action, without regard to whether such action requires notification pursuant to paragraph (24), that has the effect of requiring a lender to make an express loan pursuant to subparagraph (D).

(F) Express loans for renewable energy and energy efficiency.— (i) Definitions.—In this subparagraph— (I) the term “biomass”— (aa) means any organic material that is available on a renewable or recurring basis, including— (AA) agricultural crops; (BB) trees grown for energy production; (CC) wood waste and wood residues; (DD) plants (including aquatic plants and grasses); (EE) residues; (FF) fibers; (GG) animal wastes and other waste materials; and (HH) fats, oils, and greases (including recycled fats, oils, and greases); and (bb) does not include— (AA) paper that is commonly recycled; or (BB) unsegregated solid waste; (II) the term “energy efficiency project” means the installation or upgrading of equipment that results in a significant reduction in energy usage; and (III) the term “renewable energy system” means a system of energy derived from— (aa) a wind, solar, biomass (including biodiesel), or geothermal source; or (bb) hydrogen derived from biomass or water using an energy source described in item (aa). (ii) Loans.—The Administrator may make a loan under the Express Loan Program for the purpose of— (I) purchasing a renewable energy system; or (II) carrying out an energy efficiency project for a small business concern.

(G) Guarantee fee waiver for veterans.— (i) Guarantee fee waiver.— The Administrator may not collect a guarantee fee described in paragraph (18) in connection with a loan made under this paragraph to a veteran or spouse of a veteran on or after October 1, 2015. (ii) Exception.— If the President’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year, submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, includes a cost for the program established under this subsection that is above zero, the requirements of clause (i) shall not apply to loans made during such upcoming fiscal year. (iii) Definition.—In this subparagraph, the term “veteran or spouse of a veteran” means— (I) a veteran, as defined in section 632(q)(4) of this title; (II) an individual who is eligible to participate in the Transition Assistance Program established under section 1144 of title 10; (III) a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces named in section 10101 of title 10; (IV) the spouse of an individual described in subclause (I), (II), or (III); or (V) the surviving spouse (as defined in section 101 of title 38) of an individual described in subclause (I), (II), or (III) who died while serving on active duty or as a result of a disability that is service-connected (as defined in such section).

(H) Recovery opportunity loans.— (i) In general.— The Administrator may guarantee an express loan to a small business concern located in a disaster area in accordance with this subparagraph. (ii) Maximums.—For a loan guaranteed under clause (i)— (I) the maximum loan amount is $150,000; and (II) the guarantee rate shall be not more than 85 percent. (iii) Overall cap.— A loan guaranteed under clause (i) shall not be counted in determining the amount of loans made to a borrower for purposes of subparagraph (D). (iv) Operations.— A small business concern receiving a loan guaranteed under clause (i) shall certify that the small business concern was in operation on the date on which the applicable major disaster occurred as a condition of receiving the loan. (v) Repayment ability.— A loan guaranteed under clause (i) may only be made to a small business concern that demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the Administrator, sufficient capacity to repay the loan. (vi) Timing of payment of guarantees.— (I) In general.— Not later than 90 days after the date on which a request for purchase is filed with the Administrator, the Administrator shall determine whether to pay the guaranteed portion of the loan. (II) Recapture.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, unless there is a subsequent finding of fraud by a court of competent jurisdiction relating to a loan guaranteed under clause (i), on and after the date that is 6 months after the date on which the Administrator determines to pay the guaranteed portion of the loan, the Administrator may not attempt to recapture the paid guarantee. (vii) Fees.— (I) In general.— Unless the Administrator has waived the guarantee fee that would otherwise be collected by the Administrator under paragraph (18) for a loan guaranteed under clause (i), and except as provided in subclause (II), the guarantee fee for the loan shall be equal to the guarantee fee that the Administrator would collect if the guarantee rate for the loan was 50 percent. (II) Exception.— Subclause (I) shall not apply if the cost of carrying out the program under this subsection in a fiscal year is more than zero and such cost is directly attributable to the cost of guaranteeing loans under clause (i). (viii) Rules.— Not later than 270 days after November 25, 2015, the Administrator shall promulgate rules to carry out this subparagraph.

In this paragraph—

(A) Definitions.—In this paragraph— (i) the term “cost” has the meaning given that term in section 661a of title 2; (ii) the term “covered energy efficiency loan” means a loan— (I) made under this subsection; and (II) the proceeds of which are used to purchase energy efficient designs, equipment, or fixtures, or to reduce the energy consumption of the borrower by 10 percent or more; and (iii) the term “pilot program” means the pilot program established under subparagraph (B) [4]

(B) Establishment.— The Administrator shall establish and carry out a pilot program under which the Administrator shall reduce the fees for covered energy efficiency loans.

(C) Duration.— The pilot program shall terminate at the end of the second full fiscal year after the date that the Administrator establishes the pilot program.

(D) Maximum participation.— A covered energy efficiency loan shall include the maximum participation levels by the Administrator permitted for loans made under this subsection.

(E) Fees.— (i) In general.— The fee on a covered energy efficiency loan shall be equal to 50 percent of the fee otherwise applicable to that loan under paragraph (18). (ii) Waiver.—The Administrator may waive clause (i) for a fiscal year if— (I) for the fiscal year before that fiscal year, the annual rate of default of covered energy efficiency loans exceeds that of loans made under this subsection that are not covered energy efficiency loans; (II) the cost to the Administration of making loans under this subsection is greater than zero and such cost is directly attributable to the cost of making covered energy efficiency loans; and (III) no additional sources of revenue authority are available to reduce the cost of making loans under this subsection to zero. (iii) Effect of waiver.—If the Administrator waives the reduction of fees under clause (ii), the Administrator— (I) shall not assess or collect fees in an amount greater than necessary to ensure that the cost of the program under this subsection is not greater than zero; and (II) shall reinstate the fee reductions under clause (i) when the conditions in clause (ii) no longer apply. (iv) No increase of fees.— The Administrator shall not increase the fees under paragraph (18) on loans made under this subsection that are not covered energy efficiency loans as a direct result of the pilot program.

(F) GAO report.— (i) In general.— Not later than 1 year after the date that the pilot program terminates, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report on the pilot program. (ii) Contents.—The report submitted under clause (i) shall include— (I) the number of covered energy efficiency loans for which fees were reduced under the pilot program; (II) a description of the energy efficiency savings with the pilot program; (III) a description of the impact of the pilot program on the program under this subsection; (IV) an evaluation of the efficacy and potential fraud and abuse of the pilot program; and (V) recommendations for improving the pilot program.

In this paragraph—

(A) Definitions.—In this paragraph— (i) the term “cost” has the meaning given that term in section 661a of title 2; (ii) the term “pilot program” means the pilot program established under subparagraph (B); and (iii) the term “veteran participation loan” means a loan made under this subsection to a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans of the Armed Forces or members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces.

(B) Establishment.— The Administrator shall establish and carry out a pilot program under which the Administrator shall reduce the fees for veteran participation loans.

(C) Duration.— The pilot program shall terminate at the end of the second full fiscal year after the date that the Administrator establishes the pilot program.

(D) Maximum participation.— A veteran participation loan shall include the maximum participation levels by the Administrator permitted for loans made under this subsection.

(E) Fees.— (i) In general.— The fee on a veteran participation loan shall be equal to 50 percent of the fee otherwise applicable to that loan under paragraph (18). (ii) Waiver.—The Administrator may waive clause (i) for a fiscal year if— (I) for the fiscal year before that fiscal year, the annual estimated rate of default of veteran participation loans exceeds that of loans made under this subsection that are not veteran participation loans; (II) the cost to the Administration of making loans under this subsection is greater than zero and such cost is directly attributable to the cost of making veteran participation loans; and (III) no additional sources of revenue authority are available to reduce the cost of making loans under this subsection to zero. (iii) Effect of waiver.—If the Administrator waives the reduction of fees under clause (ii), the Administrator— (I) shall not assess or collect fees in an amount greater than necessary to ensure that the cost of the program under this subsection is not greater than zero; and (II) shall reinstate the fee reductions under clause (i) when the conditions in clause (ii) no longer apply. (iv) No increase of fees.— The Administrator shall not increase the fees under paragraph (18) on loans made under this subsection that are not veteran participation loans as a direct result of the pilot program.

(F) GAO report.— (i) In general.— Not later than 1 year after the date that the pilot program terminates, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate a report on the pilot program. (ii) Contents.—The report submitted under clause (i) shall include— (I) the number of veteran participation loans for which fees were reduced under the pilot program; (II) a description of the impact of the pilot program on the program under this subsection; (III) an evaluation of the efficacy and potential fraud and abuse of the pilot program; and (IV) recommendations for improving the pilot program.

In this paragraph—

(A) Definitions.—In this paragraph— (i) the term “export development activity” includes— (I) obtaining a standby letter of credit when required as a bid bond, performance bond, or advance payment guarantee; (II) participation in a trade show that takes place outside the United States; (III) translation of product brochures or catalogues for use in markets outside the United States; (IV) obtaining a general line of credit for export purposes; (V) performing a service contract from buyers located outside the United States; (VI) obtaining transaction-specific financing associated with completing export orders; (VII) purchasing real estate or equipment to be used in the production of goods or services for export; (VIII) providing term loans or other financing to enable a small business concern, including an export trading company and an export management company, to develop a market outside the United States; and (IX) acquiring, constructing, renovating, modernizing, improving, or expanding a production facility or equipment to be used in the United States in the production of goods or services for export; and (ii) the term “express loan” means a loan in which a lender uses to the maximum extent practicable the loan analyses, procedures, and documentation of the lender to provide expedited processing of the loan application.

(B) Authority.— The Administrator may guarantee the timely payment of an express loan to a small business concern made for an export development activity.

(C) Level of participation.— (i) Maximum amount.— The maximum amount of an express loan guaranteed under this paragraph shall be $500,000. (ii) Percentage.—For an express loan guaranteed under this paragraph, the Administrator shall guarantee— (I) 90 percent of a loan that is not more than $350,000; and (II) 75 percent of a loan that is more than $350,000 and not more than $500,000.

In this paragraph, the term “cooperative” means an entity that is determined to be a cooperative by the Administrator, in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws and regulation.

(A) Definition.— In this paragraph, the term “cooperative” means an entity that is determined to be a cooperative by the Administrator, in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws and regulation.

(B) Authority.— The Administration shall guarantee loans made to a cooperative for the purpose described in paragraph (15).

Except as to agricultural enterprises as defined in section 647(b)(1) of this title, the Administration also is empowered to the extent and in such amounts as provided in advance in appropriation Acts—

to make such loans (either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred (guaranteed) basis) as the Administration may determine to be necessary or appropriate to repair, rehabilitate or replace property, real or personal, damaged or destroyed by or as a result of natural or other disasters: Provided, That such damage or destruction is not compensated for by insurance or otherwise: And provided further, That the Administration may increase the amount of the loan by up to an additional 20 per centum of the aggregate costs of such damage or destruction (whether or not compensated for by insurance or otherwise) if it determines such increase to be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the damaged or destroyed property from possible future disasters by taking mitigating measures, including—

(A) to make such loans (either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred (guaranteed) basis) as the Administration may determine to be necessary or appropriate to repair, rehabilitate or replace property, real or personal, damaged or destroyed by or as a result of natural or other disasters: Provided, That such damage or destruction is not compensated for by insurance or otherwise: And provided further, That the Administration may increase the amount of the loan by up to an additional 20 per centum of the aggregate costs of such damage or destruction (whether or not compensated for by insurance or otherwise) if it determines such increase to be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the damaged or destroyed property from possible future disasters by taking mitigating measures, including— (i) construction of retaining walls and sea walls; (ii) grading and contouring land; and (iii) relocating utilities and modifying structures, including construction of a safe room or similar storm shelter designed to protect property and occupants from tornadoes or other natural disasters, if such safe room or similar storm shelter is constructed in accordance with applicable standards issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency;

(B) to refinance any mortgage or other lien against a totally destroyed or substantially damaged home or business concern: Provided, That no loan or guarantee shall be extended unless the Administration finds that (i) the applicant is not able to obtain credit elsewhere; (ii) such property is to be repaired, rehabilitated, or replaced; (iii) the amount refinanced shall not exceed the amount of physical loss sustained; and (iv) such amounts shall be reduced to the extent such mortgage or lien is satisfied by insurance or otherwise; and

(C) during fiscal years 2000 through 2004, to establish a predisaster mitigation program to make such loans (either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred (guaranteed) basis), as the Administrator may determine to be necessary or appropriate, to enable small businesses to use mitigation techniques in support of a formal mitigation program established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, except that no loan or guarantee may be extended to a small business under this subparagraph unless the Administration finds that the small business is otherwise unable to obtain credit for the purposes described in this subparagraph;

to make such loans (either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred (guaranteed) basis) as the Administration may determine to be necessary or appropriate to any small business concern, private nonprofit organization, or small agricultural cooperative located in an area affected by a disaster,[5] (including drought), with respect to both farm-related and nonfarm-related small business concerns, if the Administration determines that the concern, the organization, or the cooperative has suffered a substantial economic injury as a result of such disaster and if such disaster constitutes—

(A) a major disaster, as determined by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.); or

(B) a natural disaster, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to section 1961 of title 7, in which case, assistance under this paragraph may be provided to farm-related and nonfarm-related small business concerns, subject to the other applicable requirements of this paragraph; or

(C) a disaster, as determined by the Administrator of the Small Business Administration; or

(D) if no disaster declaration has been issued pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), or (C), the Governor of a State in which a disaster has occurred may certify to the Small Business Administration that small business concerns, private nonprofit organizations, or small agricultural cooperatives (1) have suffered economic injury as a result of such disaster, and (2) are in need of financial assistance which is not available on reasonable terms in the disaster stricken area. Not later than 30 days after the date of receipt of such certification by a Governor of a State, the Administration shall respond in writing to that Governor on its determination and the reasons therefore,[6] and may then make such loans as would have been available under this paragraph if a disaster declaration had been issued.

In this paragraph—

(A) In this paragraph— (i) the term “essential employee” means an individual who is employed by a small business concern and whose managerial or technical expertise is critical to the successful day-to-day operations of that small business concern; (ii) the term “period of military conflict” has the meaning given the term in subsection (n)(1); and (iii) the term “substantial economic injury” means an economic harm to a business concern that results in the inability of the business concern— (I) to meet its obligations as they mature; (II) to pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses; or (III) to market, produce, or provide a product or service ordinarily marketed, produced, or provided by the business concern.

(B) The Administration may make such disaster loans (either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred basis) to assist a small business concern that has suffered or that is likely to suffer substantial economic injury as the result of an essential employee of such small business concern being ordered to active military duty during a period of military conflict.

(C) A small business concern described in subparagraph (B) shall be eligible to apply for assistance under this paragraph during the period beginning on the date on which the essential employee is ordered to active duty and ending on the date that is 1 year after the date on which such essential employee is discharged or released from active duty. The Administrator may, when appropriate (as determined by the Administrator), extend the ending date specified in the preceding sentence by not more than 1 year.

(D) Any loan or guarantee extended pursuant to this paragraph shall be made at the same interest rate as economic injury loans under paragraph (2).

(E) No loan may be made under this paragraph, either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred basis, if the total amount outstanding and committed to the borrower under this subsection would exceed $1,500,000, unless such applicant constitutes, or have [7] become due to changed economic circumstances, a major source of employment in its surrounding area, as determined by the Administration, in which case the Administration, in its discretion, may waive the $1,500,000 limitation.

(F) For purposes of assistance under this paragraph, no declaration of a disaster area shall be required.

(G) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator may make a loan under this paragraph of not more than $50,000 without collateral. (ii) The Administrator may defer payment of principal and interest on a loan described in clause (i) during the longer of— (I) the 1-year period beginning on the date of the initial disbursement of the loan; and (II) the period during which the relevant essential employee is on active duty.

(H) The Administrator shall give priority to any application for a loan under this paragraph and shall process and make a determination regarding such applications prior to processing or making a determination on other loan applications under this subsection, on a rolling basis.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later than 10 days before the closing date of an application period for a major disaster (including any major disaster relating to which the Administrator declares eligibility for additional disaster assistance under paragraph (9)), the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report that includes—

(A) In general.— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for any disaster declared under this subsection or major disaster (including any major disaster relating to which the Administrator declares eligibility for additional disaster assistance under paragraph (9)), the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that all application periods for disaster relief under this chapter correspond with application deadlines established under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), or as extended by the President.

(B) Deadlines.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, not later than 10 days before the closing date of an application period for a major disaster (including any major disaster relating to which the Administrator declares eligibility for additional disaster assistance under paragraph (9)), the Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report that includes— (i) the deadline for submitting applications for assistance under this chapter relating to that major disaster; (ii) information regarding the number of loan applications and disbursements processed by the Administrator relating to that major disaster for each day during the period beginning on the date on which that major disaster was declared and ending on the date of that report; and (iii) an estimate of the number of potential applicants that have not submitted an application relating to that major disaster.

If a disaster is declared under this subsection or the Administrator declares eligibility for additional disaster assistance under paragraph (9), the Administrator shall make every effort to communicate through radio, television, print, and web-based outlets, all relevant information needed by disaster loan applicants, including—

(A) the date of such declaration;

(B) cities and towns within the area of such declaration;

(C) loan application deadlines related to such disaster;

(D) all relevant contact information for victim services available through the Administration (including links to small business development center websites);

(E) links to relevant Federal and State disaster assistance websites, including links to websites providing information regarding assistance available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency;

(F) information on eligibility criteria for Administration loan programs, including where such applications can be found; and

(G) application materials that clearly state the function of the Administration as the Federal source of disaster loans for homeowners and renters.

The Administrator may enter into an agreement with a qualified private contractor, as determined by the Administrator, to process loans under this subsection in the event of a major disaster (including any major disaster relating to which the Administrator declares eligibility for additional disaster assistance under paragraph (9)), under which the Administrator shall pay the contractor a fee for each loan processed.

(A) Disaster loan processing.— The Administrator may enter into an agreement with a qualified private contractor, as determined by the Administrator, to process loans under this subsection in the event of a major disaster (including any major disaster relating to which the Administrator declares eligibility for additional disaster assistance under paragraph (9)), under which the Administrator shall pay the contractor a fee for each loan processed.

(B) Loan loss verification services.— The Administrator may enter into an agreement with a qualified lender or loss verification professional, as determined by the Administrator, to verify losses for loans under this subsection in the event of a major disaster (including any major disaster relating to which the Administrator declares eligibility for additional disaster assistance under paragraph (9)), under which the Administrator shall pay the lender or verification professional a fee for each loan for which such lender or verification professional verifies losses.

In carrying out this section, the Administrator may, where practicable, ensure that the number of full-time equivalent employees—

(A) In general.—In carrying out this section, the Administrator may, where practicable, ensure that the number of full-time equivalent employees— (i) in the Office of the Disaster Assistance is not fewer than 800; and (ii) in the Disaster Cadre of the Administration is not fewer than 1,000.

(B) Report.—In carrying out this subsection, if the number of full-time employees for either the Office of Disaster Assistance or the Disaster Cadre of the Administration is below the level described in subparagraph (A) for that office, not later than 21 days after the date on which that staffing level decreased below the level described in subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations and Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives, a report— (i) detailing staffing levels on that date; (ii) requesting, if practicable and determined appropriate by the Administrator, additional funds for additional employees; and (iii) containing such additional information, as determined appropriate by the Administrator.

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the aggregate loan amount outstanding and committed to a borrower under this subsection may not exceed $2,000,000.

(A) Aggregate loan amounts.— Except as provided in subparagraph (B), and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the aggregate loan amount outstanding and committed to a borrower under this subsection may not exceed $2,000,000.

(B) Waiver authority.— The Administrator may, at the discretion of the Administrator, increase the aggregate loan amount under subparagraph (A) for loans relating to a disaster to a level established by the Administrator, based on appropriate economic indicators for the region in which that disaster occurred.

A major disaster for which the Administrator declares eligibility for additional disaster assistance under this paragraph shall—

(A) In general.— If the President declares a major disaster, the Administrator may declare eligibility for additional disaster assistance in accordance with this paragraph.

(B) Threshold.—A major disaster for which the Administrator declares eligibility for additional disaster assistance under this paragraph shall— (i) have resulted in extraordinary levels of casualties or damage or disruption severely affecting the population (including mass evacuations), infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, or government functions in an area; (ii) be comparable to the description of a catastrophic incident in the National Response Plan of the Administration, or any successor thereto, unless there is no successor to such plan, in which case this clause shall have no force or effect; and (iii) be of such size and scope that— (I) the disaster assistance programs under the other paragraphs under this subsection are incapable of providing adequate and timely assistance to individuals or business concerns located within the disaster area; or (II) a significant number of business concerns outside the disaster area have suffered disaster-related substantial economic injury as a result of the incident.

(C) Additional economic injury disaster loan assistance.— (i) In general.— If the Administrator declares eligibility for additional disaster assistance under this paragraph, the Administrator may make such loans under this subparagraph (either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred basis) as the Administrator determines appropriate to eligible small business concerns located anywhere in the United States. (ii) Processing time.— (I) In general.— If the Administrator determines that the average processing time for applications for disaster loans under this subparagraph relating to a specific major disaster is more than 15 days, the Administrator shall give priority to the processing of such applications submitted by eligible small business concerns located inside the disaster area, until the Administrator determines that the average processing time for such applications is not more than 15 days. (II) Suspension of applications from outside disaster area.— If the Administrator determines that the average processing time for applications for disaster loans under this subparagraph relating to a specific major disaster is more than 30 days, the Administrator shall suspend the processing of such applications submitted by eligible small business concerns located outside the disaster area, until the Administrator determines that the average processing time for such applications is not more than 15 days. (iii) Loan terms.— A loan under this subparagraph shall be made on the same terms as a loan under paragraph (2).

(D) Definitions.—In this paragraph— (i) the term “disaster area” means the area for which the applicable major disaster was declared; (ii) the term “disaster-related substantial economic injury” means economic harm to a business concern that results in the inability of the business concern to— (I) meet its obligations as it matures; (II) meet its ordinary and necessary operating expenses; or (III) market, produce, or provide a product or service ordinarily marketed, produced, or provided by the business concern because the business concern relies on materials from the disaster area or sells or markets in the disaster area; and (iii) the term “eligible small business concern” means a small business concern— (I) that has suffered disaster-related substantial economic injury as a result of the applicable major disaster; and (II) (aa) for which not less than 25 percent of the market share of that small business concern is from business transacted in the disaster area; (bb) for which not less than 25 percent of an input into a production process of that small business concern is from the disaster area; or (cc) that relies on a provider located in the disaster area for a service that is not readily available elsewhere.

(10) Reducing closing and disbursement delays.— The Administrator shall provide a clear and concise notification on all application materials for loans made under this subsection and on relevant websites notifying an applicant that the applicant may submit all documentation necessary for the approval of the loan at the time of application and that failure to submit all documentation could delay the approval and disbursement of the loan.

(11) Increasing transparency in loan approvals.— The Administrator shall establish and implement clear, written policies and procedures for analyzing the ability of a loan applicant to repay a loan made under this subsection.

The Administration may provide financial assistance to a small business development center, a women’s business center described in section 656 of this title, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, or any proposed consortium of such individuals or entities to spur disaster recovery and growth of small business concerns located in an area for which the President has declared a major disaster.

(A) In general.— The Administration may provide financial assistance to a small business development center, a women’s business center described in section 656 of this title, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, or any proposed consortium of such individuals or entities to spur disaster recovery and growth of small business concerns located in an area for which the President has declared a major disaster.

(B) Form of financial assistance.— Financial assistance provided under this paragraph shall be in the form of a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.

(C) No matching funds required.— Matching funds shall not be required for any grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this paragraph.

(D) Requirements.— A recipient of financial assistance under this paragraph shall provide counseling, training, and other related services, such as promoting long-term resiliency, to small business concerns and entrepreneurs impacted by a major disaster.

(E) Performance.— (i) In general.— The Administrator, in cooperation with the recipients of financial assistance under this paragraph, shall establish metrics and goals for performance of grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements under this paragraph, which shall include recovery of sales, recovery of employment, reestablishment of business premises, and establishment of new small business concerns. (ii) Use of estimates.— The Administrator shall base the goals and metrics for performance established under clause (i), in part, on the estimates of disaster impact prepared by the Office of Disaster Assistance for purposes of estimating loan-making requirements.

(F) Term.— (i) In general.— The term of any grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this paragraph shall be for not more than 2 years. (ii) Extension.— The Administrator may make 1 extension of a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this paragraph for a period of not more than 1 year, upon a showing of good cause and need for the extension.

(G) Exemption from other program requirements.— Financial assistance provided under this paragraph is in addition to, and wholly separate from, any other form of assistance provided by the Administrator under this chapter.

(H) Competitive basis.— The Administration shall award financial assistance under this paragraph on a competitive basis.

If a contractor or other person engages in malfeasance in connection with repairs to, rehabilitation of, or replacement of real or personal property relating to which a loan was made under this subsection and the malfeasance results in substantial economic damage to the recipient of the loan or substantial risks to health or safety, upon receiving documentation of the substantial economic damage or the substantial risk to health and safety from an independent loss verifier, and subject to subparagraph (B), the Administrator may increase the amount of the loan under this subsection, as necessary for the cost of repairs, rehabilitation, or replacement needed to address the cause of the economic damage or health or safety risk.

(A) In general.— If a contractor or other person engages in malfeasance in connection with repairs to, rehabilitation of, or replacement of real or personal property relating to which a loan was made under this subsection and the malfeasance results in substantial economic damage to the recipient of the loan or substantial risks to health or safety, upon receiving documentation of the substantial economic damage or the substantial risk to health and safety from an independent loss verifier, and subject to subparagraph (B), the Administrator may increase the amount of the loan under this subsection, as necessary for the cost of repairs, rehabilitation, or replacement needed to address the cause of the economic damage or health or safety risk.

(B) Requirements.— The Administrator may only increase the amount of a loan under subparagraph (A) upon receiving an appropriate certification from the borrower and person performing the mitigation attesting to the reasonableness of the mitigation costs and an assignment of any proceeds received from the person engaging in the malfeasance. The assignment of proceeds recovered from the person engaging in the malfeasance shall be equal to the amount of the loan under this section. Any mitigation activities shall be subject to audit and independent verification of completeness and cost reasonableness.

Each district office of the Administration shall—

(A) In general.— The Administrator, acting through the district offices of the Administration, shall identify locations that may be used as recovery centers by the Administration in the event of a disaster declared under this subsection or a major disaster.

(B) Requirements for identification.—Each district office of the Administration shall— (i) identify a location described in subparagraph (A) in each county, parish, or similar unit of general local government in the area served by the district office; and (ii) ensure that the locations identified under subparagraph (A) may be used as a recovery center without cost to the Government, to the extent practicable.

The Administrator shall increase oversight of entities receiving loans under paragraph (2), and may consider—

(A) scheduled site visits to ensure borrower eligibility and compliance with requirements established by the Administrator; and

(B) reviews of the use of the loan proceeds by an entity described in paragraph (2) to ensure compliance with requirements established by the Administrator.

In this subsection—

In this subsection—

(A) the term “disaster area” means any area for which the President declared a major disaster relating to which the Administrator declares eligibility for additional disaster assistance under subsection (b)(9), during the period of that major disaster declaration;

(B) the term “eligible individual” means an individual who is eligible for disaster assistance under subsection (b)(1) relating to a major disaster relating to which the Administrator declares eligibility for additional disaster assistance under subsection (b)(9);

(C) the term “eligible small business concern” means a business concern that is— (i) a small business concern, as defined under this chapter; or (ii) a small business concern, as defined in section 103 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 [15 U.S.C. 662];

(D) the term “preferred lender” means a lender participating in the Preferred Lender Program;

(E) the term “Preferred Lender Program” has the meaning given that term in subsection (a)(2)(C)(ii); and

(F) the term “qualified private lender” means any privately-owned bank or other lending institution that— (i) is not a preferred lender; and (ii) the Administrator determines meets the criteria established under paragraph (10).

(2) Program required The Administrator shall carry out a program, to be known as the Private Disaster Assistance program, under which the Administration may guarantee timely payment of principal and interest, as scheduled, on any loan made to an eligible small business concern located in a disaster area and to an eligible individual.

(3) Use of loans A loan guaranteed by the Administrator under this subsection may be used for any purpose authorized under subsection (b).

The Administrator may establish, directly or through an agreement with another entity, an online application process for loans guaranteed under this subsection.

(A) Establishment The Administrator may establish, directly or through an agreement with another entity, an online application process for loans guaranteed under this subsection.

(B) Other Federal assistance The Administrator may coordinate with the head of any other appropriate Federal agency so that any application submitted through an online application process established under this paragraph may be considered for any other Federal assistance program for disaster relief.

(C) Consultation In establishing an online application process under this paragraph, the Administrator shall consult with appropriate persons from the public and private sectors, including private lenders.

The Administrator may guarantee not more than 85 percent of a loan under this subsection.

(A) Guarantee percentage The Administrator may guarantee not more than 85 percent of a loan under this subsection.

(B) Loan amount The maximum amount of a loan guaranteed under this subsection shall be $2,000,000.

(6) Terms and conditions A loan guaranteed under this subsection shall be made under the same terms and conditions as a loan under subsection (b).

A loan guaranteed under this subsection made to—

(A) In generalA loan guaranteed under this subsection made to— (i) a qualified individual may be made by a preferred lender; and (ii) a qualified small business concern may be made by a qualified private lender or by a preferred lender that also makes loans to qualified individuals.

(B) ComplianceIf the Administrator determines that a preferred lender knowingly failed to comply with the underwriting standards for loans guaranteed under this subsection or violated the terms of the standard operating procedure agreement between that preferred lender and the Administration, the Administrator shall do 1 or more of the following: (i) Exclude the preferred lender from participating in the program under this subsection. (ii) Exclude the preferred lender from participating in the Preferred Lender Program for a period of not more than 5 years.

The Administrator may not collect a guarantee fee under this subsection.

(A) In general The Administrator may not collect a guarantee fee under this subsection.

(B) Origination fee The Administrator may pay a qualified private lender or preferred lender an origination fee for a loan guaranteed under this subsection in an amount agreed upon in advance between the qualified private lender or preferred lender and the Administrator.

(9) Documentation A qualified private lender or preferred lender may use its own loan documentation for a loan guaranteed by the Administrator under this subsection, to the extent authorized by the Administrator. The ability of a lender to use its own loan documentation for a loan guaranteed under this subsection shall not be considered part of the criteria for becoming a qualified private lender under the regulations promulgated under paragraph (10).

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 2008, the Administrator shall issue final regulations establishing permanent criteria for qualified private lenders.

(A) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 2008, the Administrator shall issue final regulations establishing permanent criteria for qualified private lenders.

(B) Report to Congress Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 2008, the Administrator shall submit a report on the progress of the regulations required by subparagraph (A) to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives.

Amounts necessary to carry out this subsection shall be made available from amounts appropriated to the Administration to carry out subsection (b).

(A) In general Amounts necessary to carry out this subsection shall be made available from amounts appropriated to the Administration to carry out subsection (b).

(B) Authority to reduce interest rates and other terms and conditions Funds appropriated to the Administration to carry out this subsection,5 may be used by the Administrator to meet the loan terms and conditions specified in paragraph (6).

(12) Purchase of loans The Administrator may enter into an agreement with a qualified private lender or preferred lender to purchase any loan guaranteed under this subsection.

With respect to a disaster occurring on or after October 1, 1978, and prior [10] August 13, 1981, on the Administration’s share of loans made pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (b)—

(1) The Administration may further extend the maturity of or renew any loan made pursuant to this section, or any loan transferred to the Administration pursuant to Reorganization Plan Numbered 2 of 1954, or Reorganization Plan Numbered 1 of 1957, for additional periods not to exceed ten years beyond the period stated therein, if such extension or renewal will aid in the orderly liquidation of such loan.

(2) During any period in which principal and interest charges are suspended on the Federal share of any loan, as provided in subsection (b), the Administrator shall, upon the request of any person, firm, or corporation having a participation in such loan, purchase such participation, or assume the obligation of the borrower, for the balance of such period, to make principal and interest payments on the non-Federal share of such loan: Provided, That no such payments shall be made by the Administrator in behalf of any borrower unless (i) the Administrator determines that such action is necessary in order to avoid a default, and (ii) the borrower agrees to make payments to the Administration in an aggregate amount equal to the amount paid in its behalf by the Administrator, in such manner and at such times (during or after the term of the loan) as the Administrator shall determine having due regard to the purposes sought to be achieved by this paragraph.

With respect to a disaster occurring on or after October 1, 1978, and prior [10] August 13, 1981, on the Administration’s share of loans made pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (b)—

(A) if the loan proceeds are to repair or replace a primary residence and/or repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, the interest rate shall be 3 percent on the first $55,000 of such loan;

(B) if the loan proceeds are to repair or replace property damaged or destroyed and if the applicant is a business concern which is unable to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere, the interest rate shall be as determined by the Administration, but not in excess of 5 percent per annum; and

(C) if the loan proceeds are to repair or replace property damaged or destroyed and if the applicant is a business concern which is able to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere, the interest rate shall not exceed the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the average maturities of such loans and adjusted to the nearest one-eighth of 1 percent, and an additional amount as determined by the Administration, but not to exceed 1 percent: Provided, That three years after such loan is fully disbursed and every two years thereafter for the term of the loan, if the Administration determines that the borrower is able to obtain a loan from non-Federal sources at reasonable rates and terms for loans of similar purposes and periods of time, the borrower shall, upon request by the Administration, apply for and accept such a loan in sufficient amount to repay the Administration: Provided further, That no loan under subsection (b)(1) shall be made, either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred basis, if the total amount outstanding and committed to the borrower under such subsection would exceed $500,000 for each disaster, unless an applicant constitutes a major source of employment in an area suffering a disaster, in which case the Administration, in its discretion, may waive the $500,000 limitation.

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the interest rate on the Federal share of any loan made under subsection (b) shall be—

(A) in the case of a homeowner unable to secure credit elsewhere, the rate prescribed by the Administration but not more than one-half the rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury taking into consideration the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the average maturities of such loans plus an additional charge of not to exceed 1 per centum per annum as determined by the Administrator, and adjusted to the nearest one-eighth of 1 per centum but not to exceed 8 per centum per annum;

(B) in the case of a homeowner able to secure credit elsewhere, the rate prescribed by the Administration but not more than the rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury taking into consideration the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the average maturities of such loans plus an additional charge of not to exceed 1 per centum per annum as determined by the Administrator, and adjusted to the nearest one-eighth of 1 per centum;

(C) in the case of a business concern unable to obtain credit elsewhere, not to exceed 8 per centum per annum;

(D) in the case of a business concern able to obtain credit elsewhere, the rate prescribed by the Administration but not in excess of the rate prevailing in private market for similar loans and not more than the rate prescribed by the Administration as the maximum interest rate for deferred participation (guaranteed) loans under subsection (a). Loans under this subparagraph shall be limited to a maximum term of three years.

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the interest rate on the Federal share of any loan made under subsection (b)(1) and (b)(2) on account of a disaster commencing on or after October 1, 1982, shall be—

(A) in the case of a homeowner unable to secure credit elsewhere, the rate prescribed by the Administration but not more than one-half the rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury taking into consideration the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the average maturities of such loan plus an additional charge of not to exceed 1 per centum per annum as determined by the Administrator, and adjusted to the nearest one-eighth of 1 per centum, but not to exceed 4 per centum per annum;

(B) in the case of a homeowner able to secure credit elsewhere, the rate prescribed by the Administration but not more than the rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury taking into consideration the current average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the average maturities of such loans plus an additional charge of not to exceed 1 per centum per annum as determined by the Administrator, and adjusted to the nearest one-eighth of 1 per centum, but not to exceed 8 per centum per annum;

(C) in the case of a business, private nonprofit organization, or other concern, including agricultural cooperatives, unable to obtain credit elsewhere, not to exceed 4 per centum per annum;

(D) in the case of a business concern able to obtain credit elsewhere, the rate prescribed by the Administration but not in excess of the lowest of (i) the rate prevailing in the private market for similar loans, (ii) the rate prescribed by the Administration as the maximum interest rate for deferred participation (guaranteed) loans under subsection (a), or (iii) 8 per centum per annum. Loans under this subparagraph shall be limited to a maximum term of 7 years.

(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, such loans, subject to the reductions required by subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1), shall be in amounts equal to 100 per centum of loss. The interest rates for loans made under subsection (b)(1) and (2), as determined pursuant to paragraph (5), shall be the rate of interest which is in effect on the date of the disaster commenced: Provided, That no loan under subsection (b)(1) and (2) shall be made, either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred (guaranteed) basis, if the total amount outstanding and committed to the borrower under subsection (b) would exceed $500,000 for each disaster unless an applicant constitutes a major source of employment in an area suffering a disaster, in which case the Administration, in its discretion, may waive the $500,000 limitation: Provided further, That the Administration, subject to the reductions required by subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (b)(1), shall not reduce the amount of eligibility for any homeowner on account of loss of real estate to less than $100,000 for each disaster nor for any homeowner or lessee on account of loss of personal property to less than $20,000 for each disaster, such sums being in addition to any eligible refinancing: Provided further, That the Administration shall not require collateral for loans of $25,000 or less (or such higher amount as the Administrator determines appropriate in the event of a disaster) which are made under paragraph (1) of subsection (b): Provided further, That the Administrator, in obtaining the best available collateral for a loan of not more than $200,000 under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b) relating to damage to or destruction of the property of, or economic injury to, a small business concern, shall not require the owner of the small business concern to use the primary residence of the owner as collateral if the Administrator determines that the owner has other assets of equal quality and with a value equal to or greater than the amount of the loan that could be used as collateral for the loan: Provided further, That nothing in the preceding proviso may be construed to reduce the amount of collateral required by the Administrator in connection with a loan described in the preceding proviso or to modify the standards used to evaluate the quality (rather than the type) of such collateral. Employees of concerns sharing a common business premises shall be aggregated in determining “major source of employment” status for nonprofit applicants owning such premises.

(7) The Administration shall not withhold disaster assistance pursuant to this paragraph to nurseries who are victims of drought disasters. As used in subsection (b)(2) the term “an area affected by a disaster” includes any county, or county contiguous thereto, determined to be a disaster by the President, the Secretary of Agriculture or the Administrator of the Small Business Administration.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and subject to the same requirements and procedures that are used to make loans pursuant to subsection (b), a small business concern, homeowner, nonprofit entity, or renter that was located within an area and during the time period with respect to which a major disaster was declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) by reason of Superstorm Sandy may apply to the Administrator—

(A) In general.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and subject to the same requirements and procedures that are used to make loans pursuant to subsection (b), a small business concern, homeowner, nonprofit entity, or renter that was located within an area and during the time period with respect to which a major disaster was declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) by reason of Superstorm Sandy may apply to the Administrator— (i) for a loan to repair, rehabilitate, or replace property damaged or destroyed by reason of Superstorm Sandy; or (ii) if such a small business concern has suffered substantial economic injury by reason of Superstorm Sandy, for a loan to assist such a small business concern.

(B) Timing.— The Administrator shall select loan recipients and make available loans for a period of not less than 1 year after the date on which the Administrator carries out this authority.

(C) Inspector general review.— Not later than 6 months after the date on which the Administrator begins carrying out this authority, the Inspector General of the Administration shall initiate a review of the controls for ensuring applicant eligibility for loans made under this paragraph.

The Administration shall not fund any Small Business Development Center or any variation thereof, except as authorized in section 648 of this title.

In making loans under subsection (b), the Administrator may provide, to the person receiving the loan, an option to defer repayment on the loan.

In making loans under subsection (b), the Administrator may provide, to the person receiving the loan, an option to defer repayment on the loan.

(A) In general In making loans under subsection (b), the Administrator may provide, to the person receiving the loan, an option to defer repayment on the loan.

(B) Period The period of a deferment under subparagraph (A) may not exceed 4 years.

In making loans under subsection (b), the Administrator shall not require the borrower to pay any non-amortized amount for the first five years after repayment begins.

The Administration also is empowered, where other financial assistance is not available on reasonable terms, to make such loans (either directly or in cooperation with Banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred basis) as the Administration may determine to be necessary or appropriate—

The Administration also is empowered, where other financial assistance is not available on reasonable terms, to make such loans (either directly or in cooperation with Banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred basis) as the Administration may determine to be necessary or appropriate—

(A) to assist any public or private organization— (i) which is organized under the laws of the United States or of any State, operated in the interest of handicapped individuals, the net income of which does not inure in whole or in part to the benefit of any shareholder or other individual; (ii) which complies with any applicable occupational health and safety standard prescribed by the Secretary of Labor; and (iii) which, in the production of commodities and in the provision of services during any fiscal year in which it receives financial assistance under this subsection, employs handicapped individuals for not less than 75 per centum of the man-hours required for the production or provision of the commodities or services; or

(B) to assist any handicapped individual in establishing, acquiring, or operating a small business concern.

(2) The Administration’s share of any loan made under this subsection shall not exceed $350,000, nor may any such loan be made if the total amount outstanding and committed (by participation or otherwise) to the borrower from the business loan and investment fund established by section 633(c)(1)(B) of this title would exceed $350,000. In agreements to participate in loans on a deferred basis under this subsection, the Administration’s participation may total 100 per centum of the balance of the loan at the time of disbursement. The Administration’s share of any loan made under this subsection shall bear interest at the rate of 3 per centum per annum. The maximum term of any such loan, including extensions and renewals thereof, may not exceed fifteen years. All loans made under this subsection shall be of such sound value or so secured as reasonably to assure repayment: Provided, however, That any reasonable doubt shall be resolved in favor of the applicant.

(3) For purposes of this subsection, the term “handicapped individual” means a person who has a physical, mental, or emotional impairment, defect, ailment, disease, or disability of a permanent nature which in any way limits the selection of any type of employment for which the person would otherwise be qualified or qual­ifiable.

Loans made pursuant to this subsection (including immediate participation in and guarantees of such loans) shall have such terms and conditions as the Administration shall determine, subject to the following limitations—

(1) The Administration also is empowered to make, participate (on an immediate basis) in, or guarantee loans, repayable in not more than fifteen years, to any small business concern, or to any qualified person seeking to establish such a concern, when it determines that such loans will further the policies established in section 631(b) 2 of this title, with particular emphasis on the preservation or establishment of small business concerns located in urban or rural areas with high proportions of unemployed or low-income individuals, or owned by low-income individuals: Provided, however, That no such loans shall be made, participated in, or guaranteed if the total of such Federal assistance to a single borrower outstanding at any one time would exceed $100,000. The Administration may defer payments on the principal of such loans for a grace period and use such other methods as it deems necessary and appropriate to assure the successful establishment and operation of such concern. The Administration may, in its discretion, as a condition of such financial assistance, require that the borrower take steps to improve his management skills by participating in a management training program approved by the Administration: Provided, however, That any management training program so approved must be of sufficient scope and duration to provide reasonable opportunity for the individuals served to develop entrepreneurial and managerial self-sufficiency.

(2) The Administration shall encourage, as far as possible, the participation of the private business community in the program of assistance to such concerns, and shall seek to stimulate new private lending activities to such concerns through the use of the loan guarantees, participations in loans, and pooling arrangements authorized by this subsection.

(3) To insure an equitable distribution between urban and rural areas for loans between $3,500 and $100,000 made under this subsection, the Administration is authorized to use the agencies and agreements and delegations developed under title III of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended [42 U.S.C. 2841 et seq.], as it shall determine necessary.

(4) The Administration shall provide for the continuing evaluation of programs under this subsection, including full information on the location, income characteristics, and types of businesses and individuals assisted, and on new private lending activity stimulated, and the results of such evaluation together with recommendations shall be included in the report required by section 639(a) of this title.

Loans made pursuant to this subsection (including immediate participation in and guarantees of such loans) shall have such terms and conditions as the Administration shall determine, subject to the following limitations—

(A) there is reasonable assurance of repayment of the loan;

(B) the financial assistance is not otherwise available on reasonable terms from private sources or other Federal, State, or local programs;

(C) the amount of the loan, together with other funds available, is adequate to assure completion of the project or achievement of the purposes for which the loan is made;

(D) the loan bears interest at a rate not less than (i) a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, taking into consideration the average market yield on outstanding Treasury obligations of comparable maturity, plus (ii) such additional charge, if any, toward covering other costs of the program as the Administration may determine to be consistent with its purposes: Provided, however, That the rate of interest charged on loans made in redevelopment areas designated under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 [42 U.S.C. 3121 et seq.] shall not exceed the rate currently applicable to new loans made under section 201 of that Act [42 U.S.C. 3141]; and

(E) fees not in excess of amounts necessary to cover administrative expenses and probable losses may be required on loan guarantees.

(6) The Administration shall take such steps as may be necessary to insure that, in any fiscal year, at least 50 per centum of the amounts loaned or guaranteed pursuant to this subsection are allotted to small business concerns located in urban areas identified by the Administration as having high concentrations of unemployed or low-income individuals or to small business concerns owned by low-income individuals. The Administration shall define the meaning of low income as it applies to owners of small business concerns eligible to be assisted under this subsection.

(7) No financial assistance shall be extended pursuant to this subsection where the Administration determines that the assistance will be used in relocating establishments from one area to another if such relocation would result in an increase in unemployment in the area of original location.

Financial assistance under this subsection may be provided for projects, including, but not limited to—

(1) The Administration shall provide financial assistance to public or private organizations to pay all or part of the cost of projects designed to provide technical or management assistance to individuals or enterprises eligible for assistance under subsection (i), paragraph (10) of this subsection; and section 637(a) of this title, with special attention to small businesses located in areas of high concentration of unemployed or low-income individuals, to small businesses eligible to receive contracts pursuant to section 637(a) of this title.

Financial assistance under this subsection may be provided for projects, including, but not limited to—

(A) planning and research, including feasibility studies and market research;

(B) the identification and development of new business opportunities;

(C) the furnishing of centralized services with regard to public services and Federal Government programs including programs authorized under subsection (i); paragraph (10) of this subsection, and section 637(a) of this title;

(D) the establishment and strengthening of business service agencies, including trade associations and cooperatives; and

(E) the furnishing of business counseling, management training, and legal and other related services, with special emphasis on the development of management training programs using the resources of the business community, including the development of management training opportunities in existing business, and with emphasis in all cases upon providing management training of sufficient scope and duration to develop entrepreneurial and managerial self-sufficiency on the part of the individuals served.

(3) The Administration shall encourage the placement of subcontracts by businesses with small business concerns located in areas of high concentration of unemployed or low-income individuals, with small businesses owned by low-income individuals, and with small businesses eligible to receive contracts pursuant to section 637(a) of this title. The Administration may provide incentives and assistance to such businesses that will aid in the training and upgrading of potential subcontractors or other small business concerns eligible for assistance under subsections (i) and (j), and section 637(a) of this title.

(4) The Administration shall give preference to projects which promote the ownership, participation in ownership, or management of small businesses owned by low-income individuals and small businesses eligible to receive contracts pursuant to section 637(a) of this title.

(5) The financial assistance authorized for projects under this subsection includes assistance advanced by grant, agreement, or contract.

(6) The Administration is authorized to make payments under grants and contracts entered into under this subsection in lump sum or installments, and in advance or by way of reimbursement, and in the case of grants, with necessary adjustments on account of overpayments or underpayments.

(7) To the extent feasible, services under this subsection shall be provided in a location which is easily accessible to the individuals and small business concerns served.

(8) Repealed. Pub. L. 101–574, title II, § 242(2), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2827.

(9) The Administration shall take such steps as may be necessary and appropriate, in coordination and cooperation with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies, to insure that contracts, subcontracts, and deposits made by the Federal Government or with programs aided with Federal funds are placed in such way as to further the purposes of subsections (i) and (j) and section 637(a) of this title.

There is established within the Administration a small business and capital ownership development program (hereinafter referred to as the “Program”) which shall provide assistance exclusively for small business concerns eligible to receive contracts pursuant to section 637(a) of this title. The program, and all other services and activities authorized under this subsection and section 637(a) of this title, shall be managed by the Associate Administrator for Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development under the supervision of, and responsible to, the Administrator.

(A) The Program shall— (i) assist small business concerns participating in the Program (either through public or private organizations) to develop and maintain comprehensive business plans which set forth the Program Participant’s specific business targets, objectives, and goals developed and maintained in conformity with subparagraph (D).[12] (ii) provide for such other nonfinancial services as deemed necessary for the establishment, preservation, and growth of small business concerns participating in the Program, including but not limited to (I) loan packaging, (II) financial counseling, (III) accounting and bookkeeping assistance, (IV) marketing assistance, and (V) management assistance; (iii) assist small business concerns participating in the Program to obtain equity and debt financing; (iv) establish regular performance monitoring and reporting systems for small business concerns participating in the Program to assure compliance with their business plans; (v) analyze and report the causes of success and failure of small business concerns participating in the Program; and (vi) provide assistance necessary to help small business concerns participating in the Program to procure surety bonds, with such assistance including, but not limited to, (I) the preparation of application forms required to receive a surety bond, (II) special management and technical assistance designed to meet the specific needs of small business concerns participating in the Program and which have received or are applying to receive a surety bond, and (III) preparation of all forms necessary to receive a surety bond guarantee from the Administration pursuant to title IV, part B of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 [15 U.S.C. 694a et seq.].

(B) Small business concerns eligible to receive contracts pursuant to section 637(a) of this title shall participate in the Program.

(C) (i) A small business concern participating in any program or activity conducted under the authority of this paragraph or eligible for the award of contracts pursuant to section 637(a) of this title on September 1, 1988, shall be permitted continued participation and eligibility in such program or activity for a period of time which is the greater of— (I) 9 years less the number of years since the award of its first contract pursuant to section 637(a) of this title; or (II) its original fixed program participation term (plus any extension thereof) assigned prior to November 15, 1988, plus eighteen months. (ii) Nothing contained in this subparagraph shall be deemed to prevent the Administration from instituting a termination or graduation pursuant to subparagraph (F) or (H) for issues unrelated to the expiration of any time period limitation.

(D) (i) Promptly after certification under paragraph (11) a Program Participant shall submit a business plan (hereinafter referred to as the “plan”) as described in clause (ii) of this subparagraph for review by the Business Opportunity Specialist assigned to assist such Program Participant. The plan may be a revision of a preliminary business plan submitted by the Program Participant or required by the Administration as a part of the application for certification under this section and shall be designed to result in the Program Participant eliminating the conditions or circumstances upon which the Administration determined eligibility pursuant to section 637(a)(6) of this title. Such plan, and subsequent modifications submitted under clause (iii) of this subparagraph, shall be approved by the business opportunity specialist prior to the Program Participant being eligible for award of a contract pursuant to section 637(a) of this title. (ii) The plans submitted under this subparagraph shall include the following: (I) An analysis of market potential, competitive environment, and other business analyses estimating the Program Participant’s prospects for profitable operations during the term of program participation and after graduation. (II) An analysis of the Program Participant’s strengths and weaknesses with particular attention to correcting any financial, managerial, technical, or personnel conditions which are likely to impede the small business concern from receiving contracts other than those awarded under section 637(a) of this title. (III) Specific targets, objectives, and goals, for the business development of the Program Participant during the next and succeeding years utilizing the results of the analyses conducted pursuant to subclauses (I) and (II). (IV) A transition management plan outlining specific steps to assure profitable business operations after graduation (to be incorporated into the Program Participant’s plan during the first year of the transitional stage of Program participation). (V) Estimates of contract awards pursuant to section 637(a) of this title and from other sources, which the Program Participant will require to meet the specific targets, objectives, and goals for the years covered by its plan. The estimates established shall be consistent with the provisions of subparagraph (I) and section 637(a) of this title. (iii) Each Program Participant shall annually review its currently approved plan with its Business Opportunity Specialist and modify such plan as may be appropriate. Any modified plan shall be submitted to the Administration for approval. The currently approved plan shall be considered valid until such time as a modified plan is approved by the Business Opportunity Specialist. Annual reviews pertaining to years in the transitional stage of program participation shall require, as appropriate, a written verification that such Program Participant has complied with the requirements of subparagraph (I) relating to attaining business activity from sources other than contracts awarded pursuant to section 637(a) of this title. (iv) Each Program Participant shall annually forecast its needs for contract awards under section 637(a) of this title for the next program year and the succeeding program year during the review of its business plan, conducted pursuant to clause (iii). Such forecast shall be known as the section 8(a) [15 U.S.C. 637(a)] contract support level and shall be included in the Program Participant’s business plan. Such forecast shall include— (I) the aggregate dollar value of contract support to be sought on a noncompetitive basis under section 637(a) of this title, reflecting compliance with the requirements of subparagraph (I) relating to attaining business activity from sources other than contracts awarded pursuant to section 637(a) of this title, (II) the types of contract opportunities being sought, identified by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code or otherwise, (III) an estimate of the dollar value of contract support to be sought on a competitive basis, and (IV) such other information as may be requested by the Business Opportunity Specialist to provide effective business development assistance to the Program Participant.

(E) A small business concern participating in the program conducted under the authority of this paragraph and eligible for the award of contracts pursuant to section 637(a) of this title shall be denied all such assistance if such concern— (i) voluntarily elects not to continue participation; (ii) completes the period of Program participation as prescribed by paragraph (15); (iii) is terminated pursuant to a termination proceeding conducted in accordance with section 637(a)(9) of this title; or (iv) is graduated pursuant to a graduation proceeding conducted in accordance with section 637(a)(9) of this title.

(F) For purposes of this section and section 637(a) of this title, the term “terminated” and the term “termination” means the total denial or suspension of assistance under this paragraph or under section 637(a) of this title prior to the graduation of the participating small business concern or prior to the expiration of the maximum program participation term. An action for termination shall be based upon good cause, including— (i) the failure by such concern to maintain its eligibility for Program participation; (ii) the failure of the concern to engage in business practices that will promote its competitiveness within a reasonable period of time as evidenced by, among other indicators, a pattern of unjustified delinquent performance or terminations for default with respect to contracts awarded under the authority of section 637(a) of this title; (iii) a demonstrated pattern of failing to make required submissions or responses to the Administration in a timely manner; (iv) the willful violation of any rule or regulation of the Administration pertaining to material issues; (v) the debarment of the concern or its disadvantaged owners by any agency pursuant to subpart 9.4 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation); or (vi) the conviction of the disadvantaged owner or an officer of the concern for any offense indicating a lack of business integrity including any conviction for embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or violation of section 645 of this title. For purposes of this clause, no termination action shall be taken with respect to a disadvantaged owner solely because of the conviction of an officer of the concern (who is other than a disadvantaged owner) unless such owner conspired with, abetted, or otherwise knowingly acquiesced in the activity or omission that was the basis of such officer’s conviction.

(G) The Director of the Division may initiate a termination proceeding by recommending such action to the Associate Administrator for Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development. Whenever the Associate Administrator, or a designee of such officer, determines such termination is appropriate, within 15 days after making such a determination the Program Participant shall be provided a written notice of intent to terminate, specifying the reasons for such action. No Program Participant shall be terminated from the Program pursuant to subparagraph (F) without first being afforded an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with section 637(a)(9) of this title.

(H) For the purposes of this subsection and section 637(a) of this title the term “graduated” or “graduation” means that the Program Participant is recognized as successfully completing the program by substantially achieving the targets, objectives, and goals contained in the concern’s business plan thereby demonstrating its ability to compete in the marketplace without assistance under this section or section 637(a) of this title.

(I) (i) During the developmental stage of its participation in the Program, a Program Participant shall take all reasonable efforts within its control to attain the targets contained in its business plan for contracts awarded other than pursuant to section 637(a) of this title (hereinafter referred to as “business activity targets.”). Such efforts shall be made a part of the business plan and shall be sufficient in scope and duration to satisfy the Administration that the Program Participant will engage a reasonable marketing strategy that will maximize its potential to achieve its business activity targets. (ii) During the transitional stage of the Program a Program Participant shall be subject to regulations regarding business activity targets that are promulgated by the Administration pursuant to clause (iii); (iii) The regulations referred to in clause (ii) shall: (I) establish business activity targets applicable to Program Participants during the fifth year and each succeeding year of Program Participation; such targets, for such period of time, shall reflect a reasonably consistent increase in contracts awarded other than pursuant to section 637(a) of this title, expressed as a percentage of total sales; when promulgating business activity targets the Administration may establish modified targets for Program Participants that have participated in the Program for a period of longer than four years on June 1, 1989; (II) require a Program Participant to attain its business activity targets; (III) provide that, before the receipt of any contract to be awarded pursuant to section 637(a) of this title, the Program Participant (if it is in the transitional stage) must certify that it has complied with the regulations promulgated pursuant to subclause (II), or that it is in compliance with such remedial measures as may have been ordered pursuant to regulations issued under subclause (V); (IV) require the Administration to review each Program Participant’s performance regarding attainment of business activity targets during periodic reviews of such Participant’s business plan; and (V) authorize the Administration to take appropriate remedial measures with respect to a Program Participant that has failed to attain a required business activity target for the purpose of reducing such Participant’s dependence on contracts awarded pursuant to section 637(a) of this title; such remedial actions may include, but are not limited to assisting the Program Participant to expand the dollar volume of its competitive business activity or limiting the dollar volume of contracts awarded to the Program Participant pursuant to section 637(a) of this title; except for actions that would constitute a termination, remedial measures taken pursuant to this subclause shall not be reviewable pursuant to section 637(a)(9) of this title.

(J) (i) The Administration shall conduct an evaluation of a Program Participant’s eligibility for continued participation in the Program whenever it receives specific and credible information alleging that such Program Participant no longer meets the requirements for Program eligibility. Upon making a finding that a Program Participant is no longer eligible, the Administration shall initiate a termination proceeding in accordance with subparagraph (F). A Program Participant’s eligibility for award of any contract under the authority of section 637(a) of this title may be suspended pursuant to subpart 9.4 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation). (ii) (I) Except as authorized by subclauses (II) or (III), no award shall be made pursuant to section 637(a) of this title to a concern other than a small business concern. (II) In determining the size of a small business concern owned by a socially and economically disadvantaged Indian tribe (or a wholly owned business entity of such tribe), each firm’s size shall be independently determined without regard to its affiliation with the tribe, any entity of the tribal government, or any other business enterprise owned by the tribe, unless the Administrator determines that one or more such tribally owned business concerns have obtained, or are likely to obtain, a substantial unfair competitive advantage within an industry category. (III) Any joint venture established under the authority of section 602(b) of Public Law 100–656, the “Business Opportunity Development Reform Act of 1988”, shall be eligible for award of a contract pursuant to section 637(a) of this title.

A socially and economically disadvantaged Indian tribe may own more than one small business concern eligible for assistance pursuant to paragraph (10) and section 637(a) of this title if—

(A) The Associate Administrator for Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development shall be responsible for coordinating and formulating policies relating to Federal assistance to small business concerns eligible for assistance under subsection (i) and small business concerns eligible to receive contracts pursuant to section 637(a) of this title.

(B) (i) Except as provided in clause (iii), no individual who was determined pursuant to section 637(a) of this title to be socially and economically disadvantaged before August 15, 1989, shall be permitted to assert such disadvantage with respect to any other concern making application for certification after August 15, 1989. (ii) Except as provided in clause (iii), any individual upon whom eligibility is based pursuant to section 637(a)(4) of this title shall be permitted to assert such eligibility for only one small business concern. (iii) A socially and economically disadvantaged Indian tribe may own more than one small business concern eligible for assistance pursuant to paragraph (10) and section 637(a) of this title if— (I) the Indian tribe does not own another firm in the same industry which has been determined to be eligible to receive contracts under this program, and (II) the individuals responsible for the management and daily operations of the concern do not manage more than two Program Participants.

(C) No concern, previously eligible for the award of contracts pursuant to section 637(a) of this title, shall be subsequently recertified for program participation if its prior participation in the program was concluded for any of the reasons described in paragraph (10)(E).

(D) A concern eligible for the award of contracts pursuant to this subsection shall remain eligible for such contracts if there is a transfer of ownership and control (as defined pursuant to section 637(a)(4) of this title) to individuals who are determined to be socially and economically disadvantaged pursuant to section 637(a) of this title. In the event of such a transfer, the concern, if not terminated or graduated, shall be eligible for a period of continued participation in the program not to exceed the time limitations prescribed in paragraph (15).

(E) There is established a Division of Program Certification and Eligibility (hereinafter referred to in this paragraph as the “Division”) that shall be made part of the Office of Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development. The Division shall be headed by a Director who shall report directly to the Associate Administrator for Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development. The Division shall establish field offices within such regional offices of the Administration as may be necessary to perform efficiently its functions and responsibilities.

(F) Subject to the provisions of section 637(a)(9) of this title, the functions and responsibility of the Division are to— (i) receive, review and evaluate applications for certification pursuant to paragraphs (4), (5), (6) and (7) of section 637(a) of this title; (ii) advise each program applicant within 15 days after the receipt of an application as to whether such application is complete and suitable for evaluation and, if not, what matters must be rectified; (iii) render recommendations on such applications to the Associate Administrator for Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development; (iv) review and evaluate financial statements and other submissions from concerns participating in the program established by paragraph (10) to ascertain continued eligibility to receive subcontracts pursuant to section 637(a) of this title; (v) make a request for the initiation of termination or graduation proceedings, as appropriate, to the Associate Administrator for Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development; (vi) make recommendations to the Associate Administrator for Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development concerning protests from applicants that have been denied program admission; (vii) decide protests regarding the status of a concern as a disadvantaged concern for purposes of any program or activity conducted under the authority of subsection (d) of section 637 of this title, or any other provision of Federal law that references such subsection for a definition of program eligibility; and (viii) implement such policy directives as may be issued by the Associate Administrator for Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development pursuant to subparagraph (I) regarding, among other things, the geographic distribution of concerns to be admitted to the program and the industrial make-up of such concerns.

(G) An applicant shall not be denied admission into the program established by paragraph (10) due solely to a determination by the Division that specific contract opportunities are unavailable to assist in the development of such concern unless— (i) the Government has not previously procured and is unlikely to procure the types of products or services offered by the concern; or (ii) the purchases of such products or services by the Federal Government will not be in quantities sufficient to support the developmental needs of the applicant and other Program Participants providing the same or similar items or services.

(H) Not later than 90 days after receipt of a completed application for Program certification, the Associate Administrator for Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development shall certify a small business concern as a Program Participant or shall deny such application.

(I) Thirty days before the conclusion of each fiscal year, the Director of the Division shall review all concerns that have been admitted into the Program during the preceding 12-month period. The review shall ascertain the number of entrants, their geographic distribution and industrial classification. The Director shall also estimate the expected growth of the Program during the next fiscal year and the number of additional Business Opportunity Specialists, if any, that will be needed to meet the anticipated demand for the Program. The findings and conclusions of the Director shall be reported to the Associate Administrator for Minority Small Business and Capital Ownership Development by September 30 of each year. Based on such report and such additional data as may be relevant, the Associate Administrator shall, by October 31 of each year, issue policy and program directives applicable to such fiscal year that— (i) establish priorities for the solicitation of program applications from underrepresented regions and industry categories; (ii) assign staffing levels and allocate other program resources as necessary to meet program needs; and (iii) establish priorities in the processing and admission of new Program Participants as may be necessary to achieve an equitable geographic distribution of concerns and a distribution of concerns across all industry categories in proportions needed to increase significantly contract awards to small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. When considering such increase the Administration shall give due consideration to those industrial categories where Federal purchases have been substantial but where the participation rate of such concerns has been limited.

The Administration shall segment the Capital Ownership Development Program into two stages: a developmental stage; and a transitional stage.

(A) The Administration shall segment the Capital Ownership Development Program into two stages: a developmental stage; and a transitional stage.

(B) The developmental stage of program participation shall be designed to assist the concern in its effort to overcome its economic disadvantage by providing such assistance as may be necessary and appropriate to access its markets and to strengthen its financial and managerial skills.

(C) The transitional stage of program participation shall be designed to overcome, insofar as practicable, the remaining elements of economic disadvantage and to prepare such concern for graduation from the program.

A Program Participant, if otherwise eligible, shall be qualified to receive the following assistance during the stages of program participation specified in paragraph 12: [13]

(A) Contract support pursuant to section 637(a) of this title.

(B) Financial assistance pursuant to subsection (a)(20).

(C) A maximum of two exemptions from the requirements of section 35(a) 2 of title 41, which exemptions shall apply only to contracts awarded pursuant to section 637(a) of this title and shall only be used to allow for contingent agreements by a small business concern to acquire the machinery, equipment, facilities, or labor needed to perform such contracts. No exemption shall be made pursuant to this subparagraph if the contract to which it pertains has an anticipated value in excess of $10,000,000. This subparagraph shall cease to be effective on October 1, 1992.

(D) A maximum of five exemptions from the requirements of sections 3131 and 3133 of title 40, which exemptions shall apply only to contracts awarded pursuant to section 637(a) of this title, except that, such exemptions may be granted under this subparagraph only if— (i) the Administration finds that such concern is unable to obtain the requisite bond or bonds from a surety and that no surety is willing to issue a bond subject to the guarantee provision of title IV of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 692 et seq.); (ii) the Administration and the agency providing the contracting opportunity have provided for the protection of persons furnishing materials or labor to the Program Participant by arranging for the direct disbursement of funds due to such persons by the procuring agency or through any bank the deposits of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; and (iii) the contract to which it pertains does not exceed $3,000,000 in amount. This subparagraph shall cease to be effective on October 1, 1994.

(E) Financial assistance whereby the Administration may purchase in whole or in part, and on behalf of such concerns, skills training or upgrading for employees or potential employees of such concerns. Such assistance may be made without regard to section 647(a) of this title. Assistance may be made by direct payment to the training provider or by reimbursing the Program Participant or the Participant’s employee, if such reimbursement is found to be reasonable and appropriate. For purposes of this subparagraph the term “training provider” shall mean an institution of higher education, a community or vocational college, or an institution eligible to provide skills training or upgrading under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act [29 U.S.C. 3111 et seq.]. The Administration shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, promulgate rules and regulations to implement this subparagraph that establish acceptable training and upgrading performance standards and provide for such monitoring or audit requirements as may be necessary to ensure the integrity of the training effort. No financial assistance shall be granted under the subparagraph unless the Administrator determines that— (i) such concern has documented that it has first explored the use of existing cost-free or cost-subsidized training programs offered by public and private sector agencies working with programs of employment and training and economic development; (ii) no more than five employees or potential employees of such concern are recipients of any benefits under this subparagraph at any one time; (iii) no more than $2,500 shall be made available for any one employee or potential employee; (iv) the length of training or upgrading financed by this subparagraph shall be no less than one month nor more than six months; (v) such concern has given adequate assurance it will employ the trainee or upgraded employee for at least six months after the training or upgrading financed by this subparagraph has been completed and each trainee or upgraded employee has provided a similar assurance to remain within the employ of such concern for such period; if such concern, trainee, or upgraded employee breaches this agreement, the Administration shall be entitled to and shall make diligent efforts to obtain from the violating party the repayment of all funds expended on behalf of the violating party, such repayment shall be made to the Administration together with such interest and costs of collection as may be reasonable; the violating party shall be barred from receiving any further assistance under this subparagraph; (vi) the training to be financed may take place either at such concern’s facilities or at those of the training provider; and (vii) such concern will maintain such records as the Administration deems appropriate to ensure that the provisions of this paragraph and any other applicable law have not been violated.

(F) (i) The transfer of technology or surplus property owned by the United States to such a concern. Activities designed to effect such transfer shall be developed in cooperation with the heads of Federal agencies and shall include the transfer by grant, license, or sale of such technology or property to such a concern. Such property may be transferred to Program Participants on a priority basis. Technology or property transferred under this subparagraph shall be used by the concern during the normal conduct of its business operation and shall not be sold or transferred to any other party (other than the Government) during such concern’s term of participation in the Program and for one year thereafter. (ii) (I) In this clause— (aa) the term “covered period” means the 2-year period beginning on the date on which the President declared the applicable major disaster; and (bb) the term “disaster area” means the area for which the President has declared a major disaster, during the covered period. (II) The Administrator may transfer technology or surplus property under clause (i) on a priority basis to a small business concern located in a disaster area if— (aa) the small business concern meets the requirements for such a transfer, without regard to whether the small business concern is a Program Participant; and (bb) for a small business concern that is a Program Participant, on and after the date on which the President declared the applicable major disaster, the small business concern has not received property under this subparagraph on the basis of the status of the small business concern as a Program Participant. (III) For any transfer of property under this clause to a small business concern, the terms and conditions shall be the same as a transfer to a Program Participant, except that the small business concern shall agree not to sell or transfer the property to any party other than the Federal Government during the covered period. (IV) A small business concern that receives a transfer of property under this clause may not receive a transfer of property under clause (i) during the covered period. (V) If a small business concern sells or transfers property in violation of the agreement described in subclause (III), the Administrator may initiate proceedings to prohibit the small business concern from receiving a transfer of property under this clause or clause (i), in addition to any other remedy available to the Administrator. (iii) (I) In this clause, the term “covered period” means the period beginning on August 13, 2018, and ending on the date on which the Oversight Board established under section 2121 of title 48 terminates. (II) The Administrator may transfer technology or surplus property under clause (i) to a Puerto Rico business if the Puerto Rico business meets the requirements for such a transfer, without regard to whether the Puerto Rico business is a Program Participant.

(G) Training assistance whereby the Administration shall conduct training sessions to assist individuals and enterprises eligible to receive contracts under section 637(a) of this title in the development of business principles and strategies to enhance their ability to successfully compete for contracts in the marketplace.

(H) Joint ventures, leader-follower arrangements, and teaming agreements between the Program Participant and other Program Participants and other business concerns with respect to contracting opportunities for the research, development, full-scale engineering or production of major systems. Such activities shall be undertaken on the basis of programs developed by the agency responsible for the procurement of the major system, with the assistance of the Administration.

(I) Transitional management business planning training and technical assistance.

(J) Program Participants in the developmental stage of Program participation shall be eligible for the assistance provided by subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), and (G).

(14) Program Participants in the transitional stage of Program participation shall be eligible for the assistance provided by subparagraphs (A), (B), (F), (G), (H), and (I) of paragraph (13).

Subject to the provisions of paragraph (10)(C), a small business concern may receive developmental assistance under the Program and contracts under section 637(a) of this title for a total period of not longer than nine years, measured from the date of its certification under the authority of such section, of which—

(A) no more than four years may be spent in the developmental stage of Program Participation; and

(B) no more than five years may be spent in the transitional stage of Program Participation.

Not later than April 30 of each year, the Administrator shall submit a report to the Congress on the Program that shall include the following:

(A) The Administrator shall develop and implement a process for the systematic collection of data on the operations of the Program established pursuant to paragraph (10).

(B) Not later than April 30 of each year, the Administrator shall submit a report to the Congress on the Program that shall include the following: (i) The average personal net worth of individuals who own and control concerns that were initially certified for participation in the Program during the immediately preceding fiscal year. The Administrator shall also indicate the dollar distribution of net worths, at $50,000 increments, of all such individuals found to be socially and economically disadvantaged. For the first report required pursuant to this paragraph the Administrator shall also provide the data specified in the preceding sentence for all eligible individuals in the Program as of November 15, 1988. (ii) A description and estimate of the benefits and costs that have accrued to the economy and the Government in the immediately preceding fiscal year due to the operations of those business concerns that were performing contracts awarded pursuant to section 637(a) of this title. (iii) A compilation and evaluation of those business concerns that have exited the Program during the immediately preceding three fiscal years. Such compilation and evaluation shall detail the number of concerns actively engaged in business operations, those that have ceased or substantially curtailed such operations, including the reasons for such actions, and those concerns that have been acquired by other firms or organizations owned and controlled by other than socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. For those businesses that have continued operations after they exited from the Program, the Administrator shall also separately detail the benefits and costs that have accrued to the economy during the immediately preceding fiscal year due to the operations of such concerns. (iv) A listing of all participants in the Program during the preceding fiscal year identifying, by State and by Region, for each firm: the name of the concern, the race or ethnicity, and gender of the disadvantaged owners, the dollar value of all contracts received in the preceding year, the dollar amount of advance payments received by each concern pursuant to contracts awarded under section 637(a) of this title, and a description including (if appropriate) an estimate of the dollar value of all benefits received pursuant to paragraphs (13) and (14) and subsection (a)(20) during such year. (v) The total dollar value of contracts and options awarded during the preceding fiscal year pursuant to section 637(a) of this title and such amount expressed as a percentage of total sales of (I) all firms participating in the Program during such year; and (II) of firms in each of the nine years of program participation. (vi) A description of such additional resources or program authorities as may be required to provide the types of services needed over the next two-year period to service the expected portfolio of firms certified pursuant to section 637(a) of this title. (vii) The total dollar value of contracts and options awarded pursuant to section 637(a) of this title, at such dollar increments as the Administrator deems appropriate, for each four digit standard industrial classification code under which such contracts and options were classified.

(C) The first report required by subparagraph (B) shall pertain to fiscal year 1990.

In carrying out its functions under subsections (i) and (j) and section 637(a) of this title, the Administration is authorized—

(1) to utilize, with their consent, the services and facilities of Federal agencies without reimbursement, and, with the consent of any State or political subdivision of a State, accept and utilize the services and facilities of such State or subdivision without reimbursement;

(2) to accept, in the name of the Administration, and employ or dispose of in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter, any money or property, real, personal, or mixed, tangible, or intangible, received by gift, devise, bequest, or otherwise;

(3) to accept voluntary and uncompensated services, notwithstanding the provisions of section 1342 of title 31; and

(4) to employ experts and consultants or organizations thereof as authorized by section 3109 of title 5, except that no individual may be employed under the authority of this subsection for more than one hundred days in any fiscal year; to compensate individuals so employed at rates not in excess of the daily equivalent of the highest rate payable under section 5332 of title 5, including traveltime; and to allow them, while away from their homes or regular places of business, travel expenses (including per diem in lieu of subsistence) as authorized by section 5703 of title 5 for persons in the Government service employed intermittently, while so employed: Provided, however, That contracts for such employment may be renewed annually.

In this subsection—

In this subsection—

(A) the term “eligible intermediary”— (i) means a private, nonprofit entity that— (I) seeks or has been awarded a loan from the Administrator to make loans to small business concerns under this subsection; and (II) has not less than 1 year of experience making loans to startup, newly established, or growing small business concerns; and (ii) includes— (I) a private, nonprofit community development corporation; (II) a consortium of private, nonprofit organizations or nonprofit community development corporations; and (III) an agency of or nonprofit entity established by a Native American Tribal Government; and

(B) the term “Program” means the small business intermediary lending pilot program established under paragraph (2).

(2) Establishment There is established a 3-year small business intermediary lending pilot program, under which the Administrator may make direct loans to eligible intermediaries, for the purpose of making loans to startup, newly established, and growing small business concerns.

The purposes of the Program are—

(A) to assist small business concerns in areas suffering from a lack of credit due to poor economic conditions or changes in the financial market; and

(B) to establish a loan program under which the Administrator may provide loans to eligible intermediaries to enable the eligible intermediaries to provide loans to startup, newly established, and growing small business concerns for working capital, real estate, or the acquisition of materials, supplies, or equipment.

Each eligible intermediary desiring a loan under this subsection shall submit an application to the Administrator that describes—

(A) ApplicationEach eligible intermediary desiring a loan under this subsection shall submit an application to the Administrator that describes— (i) the type of small business concerns to be assisted; (ii) the size and range of loans to be made; (iii) the interest rate and terms of loans to be made; (iv) the geographic area to be served and the economic, poverty, and unemployment characteristics of the area; (v) the status of small business concerns in the area to be served and an analysis of the availability of credit; and (vi) the qualifications of the applicant to carry out this subsection.

(B) Loan limits No loan may be made to an eligible intermediary under this subsection if the total amount outstanding and committed to the eligible intermediary by the Administrator would, as a result of such loan, exceed $1,000,000 during the participation of the eligible intermediary in the Program.

(C) Loan duration Loans made by the Administrator under this subsection shall be for a term of 20 years.

(D) Applicable interest rates Loans made by the Administrator to an eligible intermediary under the Program shall bear an annual interest rate equal to 1.00 percent.

(E) Fees; collateral The Administrator may not charge any fees or require collateral with respect to any loan made to an eligible intermediary under this subsection.

(F) Delayed payments The Administrator shall not require the repayment of principal or interest on a loan made to an eligible intermediary under the Program during the 2-year period beginning on the date of the initial disbursement of funds under that loan.

(G) Maximum participants and amountsDuring each of fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013, the Administrator may make loans under the Program— (i) to not more than 20 eligible intermediaries; and (ii) in a total amount of not more than $20,000,000.

The Administrator, through an eligible intermediary, shall make loans to startup, newly established, and growing small business concerns for working capital, real estate, and the acquisition of materials, supplies, furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

(A) In general The Administrator, through an eligible intermediary, shall make loans to startup, newly established, and growing small business concerns for working capital, real estate, and the acquisition of materials, supplies, furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

(B) Maximum loan An eligible intermediary may not make a loan under this subsection of more than $200,000 to any 1 small business concern.

(C) Applicable interest rates A loan made by an eligible intermediary to a small business concern under this subsection, may have a fixed or a variable interest rate, and shall bear an interest rate specified by the eligible intermediary in the application of the eligible intermediary for a loan under this subsection.

(D) Review restrictions The Administrator may not review individual loans made by an eligible intermediary to a small business concern before approval of the loan by the eligible intermediary.

(6) Termination The authority of the Administrator to make loans under the Program shall terminate 3 years after September 27, 2010.

The purposes of the Microloan Program are—

The purposes of the Microloan Program are—

(A) PurposesThe purposes of the Microloan Program are— (i) to assist women, low-income, veteran (within the meaning of such term under section 632(q) of this title), and minority entrepreneurs and business owners and other such individuals possessing the capability to operate successful business concerns; (ii) to assist small business concerns in those areas suffering from a lack of credit due to economic downturns; (iii) to establish a microloan program to be administered by the Small Business Administration— (I) to make loans to eligible intermediaries to enable such intermediaries to provide small-scale loans, particularly loans in amounts averaging not more than $10,000, to startup, newly established, or growing small business concerns for working capital or the acquisition of materials, supplies, or equipment; (II) to make grants to eligible intermediaries that, together with non-Federal matching funds, will enable such intermediaries to provide intensive marketing, management, and technical assistance to microloan borrowers; (III) to make grants to eligible nonprofit entities that, together with non-Federal matching funds, will enable such entities to provide intensive marketing, management, and technical assistance to assist low-income entrepreneurs and other low-income individuals obtain private sector financing for their businesses, with or without loan guarantees; and (IV) to report to the Committees on Small Business of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the effectiveness of the microloan program and the advisability and feasibility of implementing such a program nationwide; and (iv) to establish a welfare-to-work microloan initiative, which shall be administered by the Administration, in order to test the feasibility of supplementing the technical assistance grants provided under clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (B) to individuals who are receiving assistance under the State program funded under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), or under any comparable State funded means tested program of assistance for low-income individuals, in order to adequately assist those individuals in— (I) establishing small businesses; and (II) eliminating their dependence on that assistance.

(B) EstablishmentThere is established a microloan program, under which the Administration may— (i) make direct loans to eligible intermediaries, as provided under paragraph (3), for the purpose of making short-term, fixed interest rate microloans to startup, newly established, and growing small business concerns under paragraph (6); (ii) in conjunction with such loans and subject to the requirements of paragraph (4), make grants to such intermediaries for the purpose of providing intensive marketing, management, and technical assistance to small business concerns that are borrowers under this subsection; and (iii) subject to the requirements of paragraph (5), make grants to nonprofit entities for the purpose of providing marketing, management, and technical assistance to low-income individuals seeking to start or enlarge their own businesses, if such assistance includes working with the grant recipient to secure loans in amounts not to exceed $50,000 from private sector lending institutions, with or without a loan guarantee from the nonprofit entity.

An intermediary shall be eligible to receive loans and grants under subparagraphs (B)(i) and (B)(ii) of paragraph (1) if it—

(A) meets the definition in paragraph (10); 2 and

(B) has at least 1 year of experience making microloans to startup, newly established, or growing small business concerns and providing, as an integral part of its microloan program, intensive marketing, management, and technical assistance to its borrowers.

As part of its application for a loan, each intermediary shall submit a description to the Administration of—

(A) Intermediary applications (i) In generalAs part of its application for a loan, each intermediary shall submit a description to the Administration of— (I) the type of businesses to be assisted; (II) the size and range of loans to be made; (III) the geographic area to be served and its economic, poverty, and unemployment characteristics; (IV) the status of small business concerns in the area to be served and an analysis of their credit and technical assistance needs; (V) any marketing, management, and technical assistance to be provided in connection with a loan made under this subsection; (VI) the local economic credit markets, including the costs associated with obtaining credit locally; (VII) the qualifications of the applicant to carry out the purpose of this subsection; and (VIII) any plan to involve other technical assistance providers (such as counselors from the Service Corps of Retired Executives or small business development centers) or private sector lenders in assisting selected business concerns. (ii) Selection of intermediaries In selecting intermediaries to participate in the program established under this subsection, the Administration shall give priority to those applicants that provide loans in amounts averaging not more than $10,000.

(B) Intermediary contribution As a condition of any loan made to an intermediary under subparagraph (B)(i) of paragraph (1), the Administrator shall require the intermediary to contribute not less than 15 percent of the loan amount in cash from non-Federal sources.

(C) Loan limits Notwithstanding subsection (a)(3), no loan shall be made under this subsection if the total amount outstanding and committed to one intermediary (excluding outstanding grants) from the business loan and investment fund established by this chapter would, as a result of such loan, exceed $750,000 in the first year of such intermediary’s participation in the program, and $6,000,000 in the remaining years of the intermediary’s participation in the program.

(D) (i) In general The Administrator shall, by regulation, require each intermediary to establish a loan loss reserve fund, and to maintain such reserve fund until all obligations owed to the Administration under this subsection are repaid. (ii) Level of loan loss reserve fund (I) In general Subject to subclause (III), the Administrator shall require the loan loss reserve fund of an intermediary to be maintained at a level equal to 15 percent of the outstanding balance of the notes receivable owed to the intermediary. (II) Review of loan loss reserve After the initial 5 years of an intermediary’s participation in the program authorized by this subsection, the Administrator shall, at the request of the intermediary, conduct a review of the annual loss rate of the intermediary. Any intermediary in operation under this subsection prior to October 1, 1994, that requests a reduction in its loan loss reserve shall be reviewed based on the most recent 5-year period preceding the request. (III) Reduction of loan loss reserve Subject to the requirements of clause IV,[14] the Administrator may reduce the annual loan loss reserve requirement of an intermediary to reflect the actual average loan loss rate for the intermediary during the preceding 5-year period, except that in no case shall the loan loss reserve be reduced to less than 10 percent of the outstanding balance of the notes receivable owed to the intermediary. (IV) RequirementsThe Administrator may reduce the annual loan loss reserve requirement of an intermediary only if the intermediary demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Administrator that— (aa) the average annual loss rate for the intermediary during the preceding 5-year period is less than 15 percent; and (bb) that [15] no other factors exist that may impair the ability of the intermediary to repay all obligations owed to the Administration under this subsection.

(E) Unavailability of comparable credit An intermediary may make a loan under this subsection of more than $20,000 to a small business concern only if such small business concern demonstrates that it is unable to obtain credit elsewhere at comparable interest rates and that it has good prospects for success. In no case shall an intermediary make a loan under this subsection of more than $50,000, or have outstanding or committed to any 1 borrower more than $50,000.

(F) Loan duration; interest rates (i) Loan duration Loans made by the Administration under this subsection shall be for a term of 10 years. (ii) Applicable interest rates Except as provided in clause (iii), loans made by the Administration under this subsection to an intermediary shall bear an interest rate equal to 1.25 percentage points below the rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury for obligations of the United States with a period of maturity of 5 years, adjusted to the nearest one-eighth of 1 percent. (iii) Rates applicable to certain small loans Loans made by the Administration to an intermediary that makes loans to small business concerns and entrepreneurs averaging not more than $7,500, shall bear an interest rate that is 2 percentage points below the rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury for obligations of the United States with a period of maturity of 5 years, adjusted to the nearest one-eighth of 1 percent. (iv) Rates applicable to multiple sites or offices The interest rate prescribed in clause (ii) or (iii) shall apply to each separate loan-making site or office of 1 intermediary only if such site or office meets the requirements of that clause. (v) Rate basisThe applicable rate of interest under this paragraph shall— (I) be applied retroactively for the first year of an intermediary’s participation in the program, based upon the actual lending practices of the intermediary as determined by the Administration prior to the end of such year; and (II) be based in the second and subsequent years of an intermediary’s participation in the program, upon the actual lending practices of the intermediary during the term of the intermediary’s participation in the program. (vii) [16] Covered intermediaries The interest rates prescribed in this subparagraph shall apply to all loans made to intermediaries under this subsection on or after October 28, 1991.

(G) Delayed payments The Administration shall not require repayment of interest or principal of a loan made to an intermediary under this subsection during the first year of the loan.

(H) Fees; collateral Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (D), the Administration shall not charge any fees or require collateral other than an assignment of the notes receivable of the microloans with respect to any loan made to an intermediary under this subsection.

Grants made in accordance with subparagraph (B)(ii) of paragraph (1) shall be subject to the following requirements:

(A) Grant amounts Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (C) and subject to subparagraph (B), each intermediary that receives a loan under subparagraph (B)(i) of paragraph (1) shall be eligible to receive a grant to provide marketing, management, and technical assistance to small business concerns that are borrowers under this subsection. Except as provided in subparagraph (C), each intermediary meeting the requirements of subparagraph (B) may receive a grant of not more than 25 percent of the total outstanding balance of loans made to it under this subsection.

(B) Contribution As a condition of a grant made under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall require the intermediary to contribute an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount of the grant, obtained solely from non-Federal sources. In addition to cash or other direct funding, the contribution may include indirect costs or in-kind contributions paid for under non-Federal programs.

(C) Additional technical assistance grants for making certain loans (i) In general Each intermediary that has a portfolio of loans made under this subsection that averages not more than $10,000 during the period of the intermediary’s participation in the program shall be eligible to receive a grant equal to 5 percent of the total outstanding balance of loans made to the intermediary under this subsection, in addition to grants made under subparagraph (A). (ii) Purposes A grant awarded under clause (i) may be used to provide marketing, management, and technical assistance to small business concerns that are borrowers under this subsection. (iii) Contribution exception The contribution requirements in subparagraph (B) do not apply to grants made under this subparagraph.

(D) Eligibility for multiple sites or offices The eligibility for a grant described in subparagraph (A),5 or (C) shall be determined separately for each loan-making site or office of 1 intermediary.

(E) Assistance to certain small business concerns (i) In general Each intermediary may expend an amount not to exceed 50 percent of the grant funds received under paragraph (1)(B)(ii) to provide information and technical assistance to small business concerns that are prospective borrowers under this subsection. (ii) Technical assistance An intermediary may expend not more than 50 percent of the funds received under paragraph (1)(B)(ii) to enter into third party contracts for the provision of technical assistance.

(F) Supplemental grant (i) In general The Administration may accept any funds transferred to the Administration from other departments or agencies of the Federal Government to make grants in accordance with this subparagraph and section 202(b) of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997 to participating intermediaries and technical assistance providers under paragraph (5), for use in accordance with clause (iii) to provide additional technical assistance and related services to recipients of assistance under a State program described in paragraph (1)(A)(iv) at the time they initially apply for assistance under this subparagraph. (ii) Eligible recipients; grant amounts In making grants under this subparagraph, the Administration may select, from among participating intermediaries and technical assistance providers described in clause (i), not more than 20 grantees in fiscal year 1998, not more than 25 grantees in fiscal year 1999, and not more than 30 grantees in fiscal year 2000, each of whom may receive a grant under this subparagraph in an amount not to exceed $200,000 per year. (iii) Use of grant amountsGrants under this subparagraph— (I) are in addition to other grants provided under this subsection and shall not require the contribution of matching amounts as a condition of eligibility; and (II) may be used by a grantee— (aa) to pay or reimburse a portion of child care and transportation costs of recipients of assistance described in clause (i), to the extent such costs are not otherwise paid by State block grants under the Child Care Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 [17] et seq.) or under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); and (bb) for marketing, management, and technical assistance to recipients of assistance described in clause (i). (iv) Memorandum of UnderstandingPrior to accepting any transfer of funds under clause (i) from a department or agency of the Federal Government, the Administration shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the department or agency, which shall— (I) specify the terms and conditions of the grants under this subparagraph; and (II) provide for appropriate monitoring of expenditures by each grantee under this subparagraph and each recipient of assistance described in clause (i) who receives assistance from a grantee under this subparagraph, in order to ensure compliance with this subparagraph by those grantees and recipients of assistance.

Grants made in accordance with subparagraph (B)(iii) of paragraph (1) shall be subject to the following requirements:

(A) Grant amounts Subject to the requirements of subparagraph (B), the Administration may make not more than 55 grants annually, each in amounts not to exceed $200,000 for the purposes specified in subparagraph (B)(iii) of paragraph (1).

(B) Contribution As a condition of any grant made under subparagraph (A), the Administration shall require the grant recipient to contribute an amount equal to 20 percent of the amount of the grant, obtained solely from non-Federal sources. In addition to cash or other direct funding, the contribution may include indirect costs or in-kind contributions paid for under non-Federal programs.

Notwithstanding any provision of the laws of any State or the constitution of any State pertaining to the rate or amount of interest that may be charged, taken, received, or reserved on a loan, the maximum rate of interest to be charged on a microloan funded under this subsection shall not exceed the rate of interest applicable to a loan made to an intermediary by the Administration—

(A) In general An eligible intermediary shall make short-term, fixed rate loans to startup, newly established, and growing small business concerns from the funds made available to it under subparagraph (B)(i) of paragraph (1) for working capital and the acquisition of materials, supplies, furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

(B) Portfolio requirement To the extent practicable, each intermediary that operates a microloan program under this subsection shall maintain a microloan portfolio with an average loan size of not more than $15,000.

(C) Interest limitNotwithstanding any provision of the laws of any State or the constitution of any State pertaining to the rate or amount of interest that may be charged, taken, received, or reserved on a loan, the maximum rate of interest to be charged on a microloan funded under this subsection shall not exceed the rate of interest applicable to a loan made to an intermediary by the Administration— (i) in the case of a loan of more than $7,500 made by the intermediary to a small business concern or entrepreneur by more than 7.75 percentage points; and (ii) in the case of a loan of not more than $7,500 made by the intermediary to a small business concern or entrepreneur by more than 8.5 percentage points.

(D) Review restriction The Administration shall not review individual microloans made by intermediaries prior to approval.

(E) Establishment of child care or transportation businesses In addition to other eligible small businesses concerns, borrowers under any program under this subsection may include individuals who will use the loan proceeds to establish for-profit or nonprofit child care establishments or businesses providing for-profit transportation services.

Subject to the availability of appropriations, of the total amount of new loan funds made available for award under this subsection in each fiscal year, the Administration shall make available for award in each State (including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa) an amount equal to the sum of—

(A) Number of participants Under the program authorized by this subsection, the Administration may fund, on a competitive basis, not more than 300 intermediaries.

(B) Allocation (i) Minimum allocationSubject to the availability of appropriations, of the total amount of new loan funds made available for award under this subsection in each fiscal year, the Administration shall make available for award in each State (including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa) an amount equal to the sum of— (I) the lesser of— (aa) $800,000; or (bb) 1⁄55 of the total amount of new loan funds made available for award under this subsection for that fiscal year; and (II) any additional amount, as determined by the Administration. (ii) Redistribution If, at the beginning of the third quarter of a fiscal year, the Administration determines that any portion of the amount made available to carry out this subsection is unlikely to be made available under clause (i) during that fiscal year, the Administration may make that portion available for award in any one or more States (including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa) without regard to clause (i).

(8) Equitable distribution of intermediaries In approving microloan program applicants and providing funding to intermediaries under this subsection, the Administration shall select and provide funding to such intermediaries as will ensure appropriate availability of loans for small businesses in all industries located throughout each State, particularly those located in urban and in rural areas.

The Administration may procure technical assistance for intermediaries participating in the Microloan Program to ensure that such intermediaries have the knowledge, skills, and understanding of microlending practices necessary to operate successful microloan programs.

(A) In general The Administration may procure technical assistance for intermediaries participating in the Microloan Program to ensure that such intermediaries have the knowledge, skills, and understanding of microlending practices necessary to operate successful microloan programs.

(B) Assistance amount The Administration shall transfer 7 percent of its annual appropriation for loans and loan guarantees under this subsection to the Administration’s Salaries and Expense Account for the specific purpose of providing 1 or more technical assistance grants to experienced microlending organizations and national and regional nonprofit organizations that have demonstrated experience in providing training support for microenterprise development and financing.[18] to achieve the purpose set forth in subparagraph (A).

(C) Welfare-to-work microloan initiative Of amounts made available to carry out the welfare-to-work microloan initiative under paragraph (1)(A)(iv) in any fiscal year, the Administration may use not more than 5 percent to provide technical assistance, either directly or through contractors, to welfare-to-work microloan initiative grantees, to ensure that, as grantees, they have the knowledge, skills, and understanding of microlending and welfare-to-work transition, and other related issues, to operate a successful welfare-to-work microloan initiative.

On November 1, 1995, the Administration shall submit to the Committees on Small Business of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report, including the Administration’s evaluation of the effectiveness of the first 3½ years of the microloan program and the following:

(A) the numbers and locations of the intermediaries funded to conduct microloan programs;

(B) the amounts of each loan and each grant to intermediaries;

(C) a description of the matching contributions of each intermediary;

(D) the numbers and amounts of microloans made by the intermediaries to small business concern borrowers;

(E) the repayment history of each intermediary;

(F) a description of the loan portfolio of each intermediary including the extent to which it provides microloans to small business concerns in rural areas; and

(G) any recommendations for legislative changes that would improve program operations.

For purposes of this subsection—

(A) the term “intermediary” means— (i) a private, nonprofit entity; (ii) a private, nonprofit community development corporation; (iii) a consortium of private, nonprofit organizations or nonprofit community development corporations; (iv) a quasi-governmental economic development entity (such as a planning and development district), other than a State, county, municipal government, or any agency thereof, if— (I) no application is received from an eligible nonprofit organization; or (II) the Administration determines that the needs of a region or geographic area are not adequately served by an existing, eligible nonprofit organization that has submitted an application; or (v) an agency of or nonprofit entity established by a Native American Tribal Government, that seeks to borrow or has borrowed funds from the Administration to make microloans to small business concerns under this subsection;

(B) the term “microloan” means a short-term, fixed rate loan of not more than $50,000, made by an intermediary to a startup, newly established, or growing small business concern;

(C) the term “rural area” means any political subdivision or unincorporated area— (i) in a nonmetropolitan county (as defined by the Secretary of Agriculture) or its equivalent thereof; or (ii) in a metropolitan county or its equivalent that has a resident population of less than 20,000 if the Small Business Administration has determined such political subdivision or area to be rural.

In lieu of making direct loans to intermediaries as authorized in paragraph (1)(B), during fiscal years 1998 through 2000, the Administration may, on a pilot program basis, participate on a deferred basis of not less than 90 percent and not more than 100 percent on loans made to intermediaries by a for-profit or nonprofit entity or by alliances of such entities, subject to the following conditions:

(A) Number of loans In carrying out this paragraph, the Administration shall not participate in providing financing on a deferred basis to more than 10 intermediaries in urban areas or more than 10 intermediaries in rural areas.

(B) Term of loans The term of each loan shall be 10 years. During the first year of the loan, the intermediary shall not be required to repay any interest or principal. During the second through fifth years of the loan, the intermediary shall be required to pay interest only. During the sixth through tenth years of the loan, the intermediary shall be required to make interest payments and fully amortize the principal.

(C) Interest rate The interest rate on each loan shall be the rate specified by paragraph (3)(F) for direct loans.

(13) Evaluation of welfare-to-work microloan initiative On January 31, 1999, and annually thereafter, the Administration shall submit to the Committees on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on any monies distributed pursuant to paragraph (4)(F).

In this subsection:

In this subsection:

(A) Eligible reservist The term “eligible reservist” means a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces ordered to active duty during a period of military conflict.

(B) Essential employee The term “essential employee” means an individual who is employed by a small business concern and whose managerial or technical expertise is critical to the successful day-to-day operations of that small business concern.

(C) Period of military conflictThe term “period of military conflict” means— (i) a period of war declared by the Congress; (ii) a period of national emergency declared by the Congress or by the President; or (iii) a period of a contingency operation, as defined in section 101(a) of title 10.

(D) Qualified borrowerThe term “qualified borrower” means— (i) an individual who is an eligible reservist and who received a direct loan under subsection (a) or (b) before being ordered to active duty; or (ii) a small business concern that received a direct loan under subsection (a) or (b) before an eligible reservist, who is an essential employee, was ordered to active duty.

The Administration shall, upon written request, defer repayment of principal and interest due on a direct loan made under subsection (a) or (b), if such loan was incurred by a qualified borrower.

(A) In general The Administration shall, upon written request, defer repayment of principal and interest due on a direct loan made under subsection (a) or (b), if such loan was incurred by a qualified borrower.

(B) Period of deferral The period of deferral for repayment under this paragraph shall begin on the date on which the eligible reservist is ordered to active duty and shall terminate on the date that is 180 days after the date such eligible reservist is discharged or released from active duty.

(C) Interest rate reduction during deferral Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the period of deferral described in subparagraph (B), the Administration may, in its discretion, reduce the interest rate on any loan qualifying for a deferral under this paragraph.

The Administration shall—

(A) encourage intermediaries participating in the program under subsection (m) to defer repayment of a loan made with proceeds made available under that subsection, if such loan was incurred by a small business concern that is eligible to apply for assistance under subsection (b)(3); and

(B) not later than 30 days after August 17, 1999, establish guidelines to— (i) encourage lenders and other intermediaries to defer repayment of, or provide other relief relating to, loan guarantees under subsection (a) and financings under section 697a of this title that were incurred by small business concerns that are eligible to apply for assistance under subsection (b)(3), and loan guarantees provided under subsection (m) if the intermediary provides relief to a small business concern under this paragraph; and (ii) implement a program to provide for the deferral of repayment or other relief to any intermediary providing relief to a small business borrower under this paragraph.

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A, title VIII, § 845(a)(2), (c), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3390, 3391; Pub. L. 110–140, title XII, §§ 1201, 1202, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1764, 1765; Pub. L. 110–186, title II, §§ 201(a), 203, 204, 208, Feb. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 627, 629, 631; Pub. L. 110–234, title XII, §§ 12061, 12063(a), (c)(2), 12065, 12066(a), 12068(a), (b)(2), 12070, 12074(a), 12077–12078(b)(1), (c), 12081–12083(a), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1406, 1407, 1409–1411, 1414–1418; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XII, §§ 12061, 12063(a), (c)(2), 12065, 12066(a), 12068(a), (b)(2), 12070, 12074(a), 12077–12078(b)(1), (c), 12081–12083(a), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2168, 2169, 2171–2173, 2176–2180; Pub. L. 111–240, title I, §§ 1111, 1113, 1131(a), 1133, 1135, 1206(a)–(g), 1401(a), (c)(1), Sept. 27, 2010, 124 Stat. 2507, 2508, 2512, 2514, 2520, 2530–2532, 2547, 2549; Pub. L. 112–74, div. C, title V, § 531, Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 922; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title XVI, § 1622(c), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2069; Pub. L. 113–128, title V, § 512(cc), July 22, 2014, 128 Stat. 1717; Pub. L. 114–38, §§ 2, 4(b), July 28, 2015, 129 Stat. 437, 438; Pub. L. 114–88, div. A, title I, §§ 1101–1104, div. B, title I, §§ 2101, 2102(a), (b), 2105–2107, 2109, title II, § 2201, title III, § 2301(a), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 687–690, 692, 694, 695; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VIII, § 865(a)(2), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 928; Pub. L. 115–141, div. E, title V, § 532, Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 581; Pub. L. 115–189, § 4(a)(2), June 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 1497; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, §§ 853(b), 861(c), 862(b)(1), (f), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1885, 1896, 1897, 1900; Pub. L. 115–370, § 2, Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5105.)