The Small Business Administration backed loans worth $27.5 billion through its primary lending program in 2023—rising well above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels as government officials aim to stabilize the economy.
Many small businesses get their start and scale up with SBA loans, which increased lending to Black, Latino, and women entrepreneurs in the past few years in step with efforts to become more equitable.
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Flippa found the county in Florida where applicants were approved for the most SBA loan funds per capita in fiscal year 2023, which ended in September. The analysis was based on the SBA's most common loan program, known as 7(a) loans. SBA's 7(a) program provides extra security to lenders when they loan money to small businesses that might otherwise be considered too risky to grant. Loans can be for up to $5 million, but in 2023, nearly 7 in 10 loans were for amounts of $350,000 or less. Small businesses can use these funds for real estate acquisitions or improvements, working capital, supplies and equipment, and for other business startup or acquisition purposes.
Barriers do still exist for eligibility, including income, credit history, and location, but SBA loans can be fruitful for founders who don't qualify for conventional business financing. They can also provide protection against high and volatile interest rates, as SBA-backed loans have maximum interest rates that are predictable and often lower than other loans.
In a national analysis of the #1 ranked counties in every state, all but two counties had populations of less than 500,000—most smaller than 100,000. That's not surprising, as the Census Bureau classifies about 99% of U.S. counties as small. Still, it signifies that these smaller communities are building successful entrepreneurial environments. In most cases, their small businesses are able to succeed beyond those within the major U.S. population centers—at least in terms of success in gaining SBA funding.
Read on to see whether your county ranks among those receiving the most SBA loans.
#50. Polk County
- SBA approved about $39.86 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $28.4 million - Number of loans: 83
#49. Dixie County
- SBA approved about $42.21 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $705,000 - Number of loans: 2
#48. Leon County
- SBA approved about $42.55 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $12.4 million - Number of loans: 28
#47. Gulf County
- SBA approved about $45.31 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $689,000 - Number of loans: 2
#46. Marion County
- SBA approved about $47.72 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $17.7 million - Number of loans: 52
#45. Escambia County
- SBA approved about $48.98 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $15.6 million - Number of loans: 33
#44. Hernando County
- SBA approved about $56.79 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $10.9 million - Number of loans: 20
#43. Brevard County
- SBA approved about $59.93 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $36.1 million - Number of loans: 85
#42. Union County
- SBA approved about $60.41 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $975,100 - Number of loans: 2
#41. Alachua County
- SBA approved about $60.73 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $16.8 million - Number of loans: 26
#40. Bay County
- SBA approved about $62.63 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $11.4 million - Number of loans: 21
#39. Highlands County
- SBA approved about $63.22 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $6.4 million - Number of loans: 8
#38. Sumter County
- SBA approved about $64.37 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $8.2 million - Number of loans: 8
#37. Suwannee County
- SBA approved about $68.29 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $3.0 million - Number of loans: 4
#36. Citrus County
- SBA approved about $68.84 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $10.5 million - Number of loans: 15
#35. Indian River County
- SBA approved about $69.13 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $10.9 million - Number of loans: 33
#34. Okeechobee County
- SBA approved about $72.20 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $2.9 million - Number of loans: 5
#33. Taylor County
- SBA approved about $72.88 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $1.6 million - Number of loans: 3
#32. Charlotte County
- SBA approved about $74.08 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $13.7 million - Number of loans: 23
#31. Lee County
- SBA approved about $79.86 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $60.1 million - Number of loans: 112
#30. Lake County
- SBA approved about $83.24 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $31.2 million - Number of loans: 68
#29. Monroe County
- SBA approved about $86.22 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $7.1 million - Number of loans: 12
#28. Volusia County
- SBA approved about $88.80 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $48.7 million - Number of loans: 67
#27. Okaloosa County
- SBA approved about $92.63 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $19.4 million - Number of loans: 37
#26. Osceola County
- SBA approved about $92.98 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $35.4 million - Number of loans: 66
#25. Duval County
- SBA approved about $94.30 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $92.7 million - Number of loans: 154
#24. Washington County
- SBA approved about $97.17 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $2.4 million - Number of loans: 2
#23. Pasco County
- SBA approved about $97.74 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $53.9 million - Number of loans: 98
#22. St. Lucie County
- SBA approved about $99.85 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $32.4 million - Number of loans: 54
#21. Seminole County
- SBA approved about $105.03 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $49.1 million - Number of loans: 100
#20. Jefferson County
- SBA approved about $107.60 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $1.6 million - Number of loans: 2
#19. Broward County
- SBA approved about $108.22 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $209.4 million - Number of loans: 550
#18. Holmes County
- SBA approved about $108.55 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $2.1 million - Number of loans: 2
#17. Clay County
- SBA approved about $109.65 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $23.7 million - Number of loans: 35
#16. Hillsborough County
- SBA approved about $110.26 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $159.3 million - Number of loans: 309
#15. Collier County
- SBA approved about $115.59 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $43.1 million - Number of loans: 67
#14. Walton County
- SBA approved about $120.02 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $8.8 million - Number of loans: 17
#13. Baker County
- SBA approved about $122.40 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $3.4 million - Number of loans: 3
#12. Miami-Dade County
- SBA approved about $131.54 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $353.8 million - Number of loans: 1071
#11. Orange County
- SBA approved about $139.27 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $196.4 million - Number of loans: 349
#10. Palm Beach County
- SBA approved about $139.77 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $207.0 million - Number of loans: 401
#9. Pinellas County
- SBA approved about $140.57 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $134.7 million - Number of loans: 214
#8. Sarasota County
- SBA approved about $156.87 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $67.3 million - Number of loans: 110
#7. Manatee County
- SBA approved about $166.15 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $65.6 million - Number of loans: 81
#6. St. Johns County
- SBA approved about $167.28 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $44.4 million - Number of loans: 69
#5. Calhoun County
- SBA approved about $179.61 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $2.5 million - Number of loans: 2
#4. Levy County
- SBA approved about $180.74 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $7.7 million - Number of loans: 8
#3. Martin County
- SBA approved about $194.28 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $30.8 million - Number of loans: 56
#2. Hardee County
- SBA approved about $195.07 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $5.0 million - Number of loans: 1
#1. Gilchrist County
- SBA approved about $317.00 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $5.6 million - Number of loans: 2
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
This story originally appeared on Flippa and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
