长滩市获联邦经济发展署75万美元补助充实小企业贷款：单笔1万美元起，利率不高于4%
位于加利福尼亚州洛杉矶县的长滩市市府10月23日宣布，该市经济发展与机会局（EDO）获得美国经济发展署（EDA）75万美元补助，用于充实市府的小企业贷款计划，帮助创业者与小商家以可负担的成本获得创业与扩张资金。
这笔资金将注入两个既有项目：微型企业贷款计划（Microenterprise Loan Program）与「壮大长滩基金」（Grow Long Beach Fund），为本地企业提供低息资金与缺口融资。贷款金额从1万美元的小额贷款到数十万美元不等，视企业需求与资格而定。利率按联邦要求定为固定利率，取4%与《华尔街日报》最优惠利率75%两者中的较低者，最高不超过最优惠利率加1个百分点；期限通常5至10年、最长25年，资金可用于运营周转、设备采购、经营开支或租约改善。
市府表示，自2001年以来，长滩市已通过小企业贷款累计发放超过790万美元，创造或保住了650个工作岗位。有意申请的商家可拨打 EDO 的 BizCare 热线562-570-4249或发邮件至 [email protected] 咨询，也可在长滩市官网的商业发展页面查看贷款计划与其他小企业资源。
市府称，支持小企业不止关乎单个创业者：稳定的本地企业有助于就业增长、经济多元化与长滩市的长期经济稳定，这也是市府持续为小企业争取联邦资金的原因。
Long Beach Wins $750,000 Federal EDA Grant to Expand Small Business Loan Programs
The City of Long Beach, in Los Angeles County, California, announced on October 23 that its Department of Economic Development and Opportunity (EDO) has received a $750,000 grant award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to support the city's small business loan programs, which give entrepreneurs and small business owners access to affordable capital to start and grow businesses in Long Beach.
The grant will fund the Microenterprise Loan Program and the Grow Long Beach Fund, which provide low-interest capital and gap financing to local businesses. Loan amounts range from $10,000 microloans to larger loans of several hundred thousand dollars, depending on the needs and eligibility of the business. Loans carry fixed interest rates set under federal requirements, at the lower of 4% or 75% of the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate, with a maximum of prime plus 1%. Terms typically run five to 10 years, up to a maximum of 25 years, and funds can be used for working capital, equipment purchases, business expenses or leasehold improvements.
The city said that since 2001 it has issued more than $7.9 million in loans through the programs, resulting in 650 jobs created or retained. Businesses interested in applying can contact EDO's BizCare Hotline at 562-570-4249 or email [email protected], or visit the city's business development pages at longbeach.gov for the loan programs and other small business resources.
The city said supporting small businesses reaches beyond individual entrepreneurs: stable local firms promote job growth, economic diversification and long-term economic stability across Long Beach, which is why the city continues to pursue federal funding for the programs.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：长滩市民中心外景（资料图）。CC0 公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Outside Long Beach Civic Center (file photo). CC0 public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
