Lending commitment will support 2,000 vet-owned businesses, add $475M in capital

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is announcing today the SBA Veteran Pledge Initiative, a commitment by its top national, regional and community lenders to collectively increase their lending activity to veterans by five percent per year for the next five years.

Oftentimes, veterans face challenges in raising capital or have trouble receiving a conventional loan. With the support of SBA’s top 20 national lending partners, and approximately 100 additional regional and community lending partners across the United States, SBA expects to assist an additional 2,000 veterans obtain loans to start or expand small businesses by increasing lending by $475 million over the next five years. This equals a five percent increase above historic veteran lending activity by the SBA.

~ Graduates from 11 central Arkansas high schools prepare for military training

Nearly 60 new recruits in the Arkansas Army National Guard who recently graduated from the following 11 high schools in central Arkansas:

• Beebe High School
• Cabot High School
• Jacksonville High School
• Joe T. Robinson High School
• Little Rock Central High School
• Little Rock McClellan High School
• Little Rock Mills High School
• Lonoke High School
• North Little Rock High School
• North Pulaski
• Sylvan Hills High School

... will be honored in a “Signing Day” banquet to recognize their entry into the Arkansas Army National Guard as they prepare to depart the state for their initial entry training.

The ceremony begins at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 21 at the Raymond W. Fisher National Guard Armory located at 2600 North Poplar Street in North Little Rock.