Women's Business Center SBA Lending Clinic Announcement

Feb 28th, 2005

Today is the day the SBA Lending Clinic starts for Mobile and Baldwin
County.

SBA Lending Clinic

$5,000 to $50,000 SBA Loans - No Collateral Required
The Mobile Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Women's Business
Center of Southern Alabama, The University of South Alabama Small Business
Development Center, and The Mobile Chapter of SCORE is hosting a lending
clinic at the chamber. Start-up and existing business owners will be able
to apply for SBA loans. The loans are unsecured (require no collateral).
Start-up and existing small businesses can apply for unsecured small
business loans up to $25,000. In addition, existing businesses (in business
2 years) can also apply on-line for unsecured loans up $50,000.

Using the Community Express program, start-up and existing business
applicants can apply for unsecured loans up to $25,000. The client receives
a decision on their application generally within 2-3 business days. This
program requires the clients to receive counseling from a technical
assistance (TA) provider before approved loans are disbursed. The counseling
is free. The Women's Business Center of Southern Alabama, The University of
South Alabama Small Business Development Center, and The Mobile Chapter of
SCORE are all TA Providers and SBA resource partners and will have
representatives available to schedule counseling.

Using the SBAExpress program existing businesses can apply on-line for
unsecured loans up to $50,000. A dedicated computer will be setup so
applicants can come in and apply on-line for these loans.
"I'm very excited about these new programs and the participation of our
lending partners and resource partners." says Michael Ricks, Alabama SBA
Director. "We now can offer applicants tools that can provide access to
capital. These new products and technology provide these services to the
citizens of Alabama in a timelier manner."

The lending clinic will be held daily Monday, February 28; Tuesday, March 1;
and Wednesday, March 2 from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. at the Mobile Chamber of
Commerce located at 451 Government St., Mobile, AL 36602. Sessions will
begin approximately each hour.

Baldwin County
Thursday, March 3; 3:00 to 7:00 pm at Faulkner State Community College, Gulf
Shores Campus, Rm#105
Friday, March 4; 8:00am to 11:00 am at Thomas Medical Center Community Room
Saturday, March 5; 8:00am to 11:00 am at Silverhill Town Hall

For more information concerning applying for SBA loans, contact the SBA
District Office at (205) 290-7101, visit their website www.sba.gov\al or
contact any of the local resource partners: The Women's Business Center of
Southern Alabama, The University of South Alabama Small Business Development
Center, or The Mobile Chapter of SCORE.

This U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Cooperative Agreement is
partially funded by the SBA. SBA's funding is not an endorsement of any
products, opinion or services. All SBA funded programs are extended to the
public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons
with disabilities will be made, if requested at least two weeks in advance.
Contact Kathleen Trent, 1301 Azalea Road, Suite 201A, Mobile AL 36693, (251)
660-2725 womensbusinesscenter@ceebic.org to make arrangements.

A Project of The Women's Business Center, Inc.