About these answers

Each answer below comes from a page crawled on www.sba.gov and names the page it came from. Where U.S. Small Business Administration has not published an answer, the question is left out rather than filled in.

Sources: Celebrating 70 years of service to America's small businesses - Small Business Administration, About SBA: history, mission and oversight -Small Business Administration, Increasing access to capital - Small Business Administration, PPP appeals - Small Business Administration

Frequently asked questions

When was the U.S. Small Business Administration created and by whom?

President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Small Business Act into law on 30 July 1953, creating the U.S. Small Business Administration. Its statutory mission is to "aid, counsel, assist and protect, insofar as is possible, the interests of small business concerns".

Source: Celebrating 70 years of service to America's small businesses - Small Business Administration
Who is the Administrator of the SBA?

Kelly Loeffler is the 28th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. She is an entrepreneur, executive, philanthropist and former U.S. Senator from Georgia.

Source: About SBA: history, mission and oversight -Small Business Administration
What are the eligibility requirements for an SBA 7(a) loan?

To qualify, a business must be an operating, for-profit business located in the U.S., be small under SBA size standards, not be an ineligible business type, be unable to obtain credit on reasonable terms elsewhere, and be creditworthy with a reasonable ability to repay. The maximum 7(a) loan amount is $5 million.

Source: Increasing access to capital - Small Business Administration
How do I apply for an SBA 7(a) loan?

Use SBA's Lender Match tool to connect with a participating SBA lender, then apply directly through that lender. The documents required vary with the loan size and the lender's processing method.

Source: Increasing access to capital - Small Business Administration
How do I file a PPP appeal with the SBA?

Borrowers have 30 calendar days after receiving a final SBA loan review decision to file, and appeals must be lodged at appeals.sba.gov. The filing must include a copy of the decision being appealed, a full statement of why it is alleged to be erroneous, and the borrower's or attorney's contact details.

Source: PPP appeals - Small Business Administration
What is the deadline for filing a NAICS code appeal with SBA's Office of Hearings and Appeals?

A NAICS appeal must be filed within 10 calendar days of the solicitation's issuance, or within 10 days of an amendment affecting the NAICS code, and must be received by 5 p.m. ET on the 10th day. Appeals are accepted by email at ohafilings@sba.gov, by fax on 202-205-7059, or via the HASU application.

Source: NAICS appeals - Small Business Administration
What is SBA's Freedom 250 Patriot Pitch Competition?

Freedom 250 is SBA's 2026 programme marking America's 250th anniversary, and includes a nationwide Patriot Pitch Competition with a $1 million prize pool and a live final in Washington, DC. Entrants must be 18 or over, meet SBA's small business definition, have at least three years of operation and $100,000 in annual gross revenue, and have used an SBA capital product.

Source: Freedom 250 - Small Business Administration
What are the federal small business contracting goals SBA sets?

The combined federal goals are 23% of prime contracts to small businesses, 5% to women-owned small businesses, 5% to small disadvantaged businesses, 3% to HUBZone small businesses, and 5% to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. SBA publishes annual agency goals and scorecards on performance.

Source: Guidance for federal contracting officials -Small Business Administration
What is u.s. small business administration?

Federal agency created in 1953 that helps Americans start, build and grow small businesses through capital, counseling, contracting and disaster recovery.

Source: About SBA: history, mission and oversight -Small Business Administration
What is 7(a) loan program?

Federal agency created in 1953 that helps Americans start, build and grow small businesses through capital, counseling, contracting and disaster recovery.

Source: About SBA: history, mission and oversight -Small Business Administration
Financial Product 7(a) loan program SBA's primary business loan program, guaranteeing loans of up to $5 million issued by participating lenders.
Financial Product CDC/504 loan program SBA loan program delivered by Certified Development Companies (CDCs) authorized to issue 504 loans.
Event Freedom 250 SBA initiative celebrating America's 250th Anniversary throughout 2026 with national small business programs.
Financial Product Microloan program SBA program providing loans of $50,000 or less through intermediary lenders to businesses and certain non-profit childcare centers.
Service Options to bypass permitting delays Builder self-certification option letting SBA disaster borrowers bypass certain state and local permitting requirements.
Service SBA lenders Resources, training and guidance for SBA-approved lenders, CDCs and microloan intermediaries.
Financial Product Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) Privately owned investment companies licensed and regulated by SBA that invest in small businesses via debt and equity.
Service Contracting officials guidance SBA resources helping federal contracting officials meet small business contracting goals and administer set-asides.
Event National Small Business Week awardees SBA awards recognising outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners from all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Topic Putting American manufacturers first SBA priority and task force focused on growing American-based manufacturers.
Financial Product 7(a) Working Capital Pilot (WCP) loans SBA 7(a) pilot loan offering asset-based and transaction-based working capital financing for domestic and export orders.
Service 8(a) eligibility appeals Appeals to OHA of SBA 8(a) determinations, filed within 45 calendar days.
Topic Celebrating 70 years of service to America's small businesses SBA observance page recounting the agency's history from the RFC through the 1953 Small Business Act.
Service NAICS appeals Process to appeal a North American Industry Classification System code designation to OHA.
Service PPP appeals Appeals to OHA of Paycheck Protection Program final SBA loan review decisions, filed within 30 calendar days.
Topic SBA employee information for shutdown and furlough Page for SBA employees and contractors with furlough guidance, forms and assistance resources.
Service VOSB and SDVOSB protest and appeals Process to protest or appeal Veteran-Owned and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business status determinations.
Topic Whistleblower Protection Laws: Employees of Contractors, Grantees, and Personal Services Contractors Protections under 41 U.S.C. § 4712 for contractor and grantee employees who make protected disclosures.
Service WOSB and EDWOSB appeals Appeals to OHA of Women-Owned Small Business and Economically Disadvantaged WOSB protest determinations.
small business administration sba loans for small business us small business administration sba sba mission and history where is u.s. small business administration located what is u.s. small business administration

Sources

  1. Freedom 250 - Small Business Administration https://www.sba.gov/freedom-250/ Verified 17 Sep 2026
  2. About SBA: history, mission and oversight -Small Business Administration https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/ Verified 17 Sep 2026
  3. Guidance for federal contracting officials -Small Business Administration https://www.sba.gov/contracting-officials/ Verified 17 Sep 2026
  4. Options to bypass permitting delays - Small Business Administration https://www.sba.gov/disaster/options-to-bypass-permitting-delays/ Verified 17 Sep 2026
  5. PPP appeals - Small Business Administration https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/oversight-and-advocacy/office-of-hearings-and-appeals/ppp-appeals/ Verified 17 Sep 2026
  6. 8(a) eligibility appeals - Small Business Administration https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/oversight-and-advocacy/office-of-hearings-and-appeals/8a-eligibility-appeals/ Verified 17 Sep 2026
  7. NAICS appeals - Small Business Administration https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/oversight-and-advocacy/office-of-hearings-and-appeals/naics-appeals/ Verified 17 Sep 2026
  8. Increasing access to capital - Small Business Administration https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/priorities/american-manufacturers/increasing-access-capital/ Verified 17 Sep 2026
  9. Celebrating 70 years of service to America's small businesses - Small Business Administration https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/organization/observances/celebrating-70-years-of-service-to-americas-small-businesses/ Verified 17 Sep 2026

Last verified 17 Sep 2026. This entry is compiled from the public web pages listed above. Nothing here is stated that those pages do not, and each of them was read on the date shown.