Committed to their success, the SBA works closely with lenders across the United States to help business owners receive the funds they need to start-up or expand their existing businesses.Although the SBA itself does not grant loans, but instead acts like a broker between lending organizations and business owners, its goal is to assure that small businesses are getting the needed funding to grow there enterprises. The SBA guarantees up to 90% of the loan.One major SBA loan program is the 7(a) program. The 7(a) program, helps businesses that may not be eligible for business loans through normal lending practices. There are several types of 7(a) loan programs as described below:o Special Purpose Loans – Aides businesses impacted by NAFTA by providing financial support to Employee Stock plans so they don’t dwindle too much.o Express Programs – Which in itself has several options such as Community express, SBA express and Patriot express. These plans within a plan help accelerate the loan review turnaround time to 36 hours in the SBA expresses; the Patriot express helps a businesses that are owned/controlled by at least 51% by veterans or members of the military, and the Community express provides both financial and technical assistance to businesses.o Export Loan – Is a priority based loan, in places for small business that are exporters. These loans are designed especially to help exporting businesses develop or expand their exporting activities.o Rural Lender Advantage – Is intended to accommodate the distinctive needs of small rural-based lenders by simplifying and streamlining the loan application process and procedures for these smaller institutions. It is part of a broader initiative to promote the economic development of small communities.The 7(a) loan programs are just some of the loan offerings the SBA has available to small business owners. SBA also has:o CDC/504 Loan Program – Provide long-term, fixed-rate financing, designed for small businesses acquiring real-estate or machinery financing.o Microloan Program – Provides small (up to $35,000) short-term loans for working capital or the purchase of inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures, machinery and/or equipment.o Disaster Assistance Loan Program – Provides low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and most private non-profit organizations to repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, inventory and business assets that have been damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster.o ARC loans – America’s Recovery Capital Loan Program started in 2009, expected to end in September 2010 or while funding last. ARC loans allows borrowing businesses to redirect money to areas that may currently be in financial distress, like helping to maintain employment levels which in turn can help maintain the company’s level of service. These loans are non-interest baring loans and can be paid off over a five year period.