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In a year when Massachusetts businesses received nearly $6.9 billion in another round of Paycheck Protection Program lending, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s traditional loan programs also provided an additional $970 million in funding to small businesses.

More than 100 lenders participated in the SBA’s flagship 7(a) loan guaranty program, the 504 loan program and the microloans programs in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. The combined volume in the 7(a) and 504 programs was up 43 percent compared to the previous fiscal year, the SBA’s Massachusetts district office said in a statement.

“Collectively, including 7(a), 504 and microloans, the SBA with the help of over 113 different lenders, supported capital to 1,533 small businesses for $970.47 million in Massachusetts,” Robert H. Nelson, SBA Massachusetts district director, said in the statement. “We thank all of our partners and friends for working with the SBA to ensure small businesses get the access to capital they need to start, grow, expand and recover.”

Lenders and small businesses benefited from SBA lending incentives, the SBA said, which lead to more resources toward recovery and growth during the pandemic.

The 7(a) program had 1,105 loans in Massachusetts for a total of more than $480.2 million through 113 lenders. This program last year saw 1,136 loans in Massachusetts for about $284 million. While there were slightly fewer loans in the program, the gross loan amount increased 69 percent.

Eastern Bank was the top SBA 7(a) lender in Massachusetts for the 13th year in a row with 185 loans totaling $35.73 million and the top third-party 504 lender with 30 loans totaling $31.16 million.

TD Bank was the next highest 7(a) lender with 71 approvals totaling $12.28 million, followed by Webster Bank with 43 loans for $13.98 million.

The 504 loan program saw a 28 percent increase year-over-year in the dollar amount approved and a 27 percent increase in the number of loans approved. The program had 342 loans for $207 million, with Bay Colony Development Corp. and Granite State Economic Development Corp. as the top two producers. This program in the previous fiscal year had about 270 loans for $161 million.

The SBA said underserved categories represented 19.9 percent of the total combined 7(a) and 504 lending, an increase of 29 percent from the previous fiscal year.  Loans to African American-owned businesses increased 210 percent from 20 approvals in 2020 to 62 in 2021. Asian-owned businesses saw a 52 percent increase in approvals, from 73 in 2020 to 111 in 2021, while lending to women increased by 12 percent from 201 loans in 2020 to 225 in 2021.

The microloan program, which provides up to $50,000 to help small businesses start up and expand, did see a decline in the number of loans and the total amount disbursed. Nine intermediaries approved 86 microloans totaling $1.87 million, down year-over-year about 44 percent and 33 percent, respectively.

The average microloan in Massachusetts was $21,859 compared to approximately $18,000 in the previous fiscal year. Common Capital was the top lender with 26 loans totaling $693,319, followed by South Eastern Economic Development Corp. with 16 approvals for $445,000 and North Central Massachusetts Development Corp. with 11 approvals for $187,700.

New Data Shows Top Mass. SBA Lenders of 2021

by Diane McLaughlin time to read: 2 min
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