U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent agency of the federal government established in 1953 to aid, counsel, assist, and protect the interests of small business concerns in the United States. The SBA's mission is to help Americans start, build, and grow businesses by providing loans, loan guarantees, contracts, counseling sessions, and other forms of assistance. Through a network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, the SBA delivers services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. The SBA's programs include financial and federal contract procurement assistance, management assistance, outreach to women, minorities, and armed forces veterans, as well as providing loans to victims of natural disasters and specialized advice and assistance in international trade.