Gov. Nixon Visits St. Joseph to Discuss Small Business Loans

Gov. Jay Nixon visited St. Joseph today, hosting a roundtable discussion with local entrepreneurs to discuss his administration’s efforts to help small businesses grow and create jobs. Among the resources for small businesses addressed by the Governor during the discussion were the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) and the Missouri Small Business Loan Program.

On March 22, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Gov. Nixon jointly announced the approval of Missouri’s application for $27 million in federal funding through the SSBCI. Gov. Nixon’s administration is investing these funds to help create new jobs to spur more than $269 million in additional small business lending in the state. The Missouri Department of Economic Development and Missouri Technology Corporation are administering the program.

“The health and prosperity of Missouri’s small businesses are the catalyst that drives job creation and a growing economy in our state,” Gov. Nixon said. “Along Main Streets in every community across Missouri, these new resources are helping entrepreneurs like the hardworking folks I met today grow their businesses and turn their dreams into bricks and mortar.

“Small businesses are the foundation of our state economy, and are simply critical to creating jobs and putting Missourians to work,” the Governor said. “We are investing these tools strategically in businesses that will help move our economy forward. I encourage Missouri small business owners to visit Mo.Gov and apply today.”

Through the SSBCI, Gov. Nixon’s administration will invest $26.9 million in SSBCI funds in small businesses across the state. Under federal guidelines, Missouri expects to generate a minimum “bang for the buck” of at least $10 in new private lending for every $1 in federal funding. As such, this $26.9 million investment is expected to support more than $269 million in new private lending.

Gov. Nixon’s administration is dedicating $16.9 million to establish the high-tech Missouri IDEA Seed and Venture Capital Funds (IDEA Funds). IDEA stands for Innovation, Development and Entrepreneurial Advancement. The Missouri IDEA funds promote the formation and growth of businesses that engage in the transfer of science and technology into job creation. The funds provide financing to eligible businesses through four components that correspond to the four stages of venture growth: 1) pre-seed capital stage financing; 2) seed capital stage financing; 3) venture capital stage financing; and 4) expansion stage debt.

Gov. Nixon’s administration will also invest $10 million of the SSBCI funding to the Grow Missouri Loan Participation fund. That program supports the formation and growth of businesses in the industrial, commercial, agricultural, and recreational sectors. It provides loans of up to $3 million to businesses with fewer than 500 employees to help attract new enterprises and expand existing companies.

In addition, the Governor briefed roundtable participants on the Missouri Small Business Loan Program, another resource for small businesses in the state. Governor Nixon established the Small Business Loan Program in 2009 to assist firms of 15 employees or less in accessing capital through low-interest loans. Since establishment of the program, 52 Missouri small businesses have received loans of up to $50,000.

Today, Gov. Nixon toured Envision Tech in St. Joseph. The business, owned by T.J. Baur, is a high-tech machine shop that serves as a vendor for the aerospace industry. During the visit, Gov. Nixon also led a roundtable discussion with Bauer and other small business owners, including:

· Mario Fantasma, CEO of Paradise Locker, a company that produces custom meats and sausages in Trimble;

· Ryan Evans, owner of Evans Computer Service in St. Joseph;

· Fred Ide, owner of Bright Disposal, a trash removal and garbage collection service in St. Joseph; and

· Larry Cunning, owner of C.V.B. Water Doctor, a water conditioning and purification service in St. Joseph.

Gov. Nixon discussed the challenges and opportunities facing each business, and provided details about how the SSBCI and Missouri Small Business Loan programs, among others, could help these small firms grow. The Governor was joined by Director David Kerr of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, who provided details about the application process for the IDEA and Grow Missouri loans.

Applications for these loans are now available at MO.gov, along with information about the application process and other details.