The Small Business Administration (SBA) is a United States government agency that provides support to small businesses.

Mission

According to the agency, the mission of the Small Business Administration (SBA) is "to maintain and strengthen the Nation's economy by aiding, counseling, assisting, and protecting the interests of small businesses and by helping businesses and families recover from economic and other disasters."

The agency is also responsible for providing loans to homeowners and renters that have been victims of presidentially declared disasters. Presidential declarations automatically make disaster assistance available to victims if they meet qualifications. The Department of Agriculture and state governors also have the authority to request declarations on areas affected by disasters in their jurisdictions. Over 80% of the loans processed by the agency are for home owners and renters.

Structure

The SBA is an independent agency that operates under the authority of the Small Business Act of 1953. The secretary of commerce delegates small business responsibilities to the SBA. The organization and management of the SBA consists of an administrator and deputy administrator, who are appointed by the president and approved by the United States Congress; field office directors; and administrators for the various program areas. The SBA also has associate administrators for the following offices: Disaster Assistance; Field Operations; Public Communications, Marketing, and Customer Service; Congressional and Legislative Affairs; Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights Compliance; Hearings and Appeals; and Management and Administration.

There are also associate administrators for Investment; Small Business Development Centers; Surety Guarantees; regular Government Contracting; and Minority Enterprise Development. Assistant administrators handle International Trade; Native American Affairs; Veterans Affairs; Women's Business Ownership; and Size Standards, and Technology. There is an associate deputy administrator for Government Contracting and Minority Enterprise Development. These offices are then the backup and resource for over 68 field offices that administer the programs and monitor loans. The Inspector General Office audits and maintains the integrity of the loans and the SBA programs.

History

The SBA was established on July 30, 1953, by the United States Congress with the passage of the Small Business Act. Its function was to "aid, counsel, assist and protect, insofar as is possible, the interests of small business concerns." Also stipulated was that the SBA should ensure a "fair proportion" of government contracts and sales of surplus property to small business. This was accomplished primarily through the Small Business Innovative Research program and government "set-asides."