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Florida small business lending programs

The government-backed programs a lender can use in Florida: the state’s own programs, most funded through SSBCI, and the federal programs available everywhere.

SSBCI administratorFlorida Department of Commerce (FloridaCommerce)
State programs4
Last reviewedNov 13, 2026

Treasury lists capital access, loan participation, loan guarantee and collateral support programs, plus venture capital. FloridaCommerce runs the capital access program; the loan participation, loan guarantee and collateral support programs are run with Florida First Capital Finance Corporation.

Florida programs

FloridaCapital access

FL CAP

A pooled loan insurance program: for each enrolled loan the borrower and lender each pay a percentage of the loan into a reserve account held at the lender, and SSBCI funds match it. The lender originates and services the loan, sets the loan conditions, and can draw on the reserve if an enrolled loan defaults. FloridaCommerce administers the program directly.

Florida Department of Commerce (FloridaCommerce)
FloridaCollateral support

FL SSBCI Collateral Support

Covers a collateral shortfall by placing a cash deposit as collateral for a business loan or credit facility, so a lender can make a loan it otherwise could not. Support can reach 80 percent of the loan value, though most is expected to be under 40 percent. It is administered by FloridaCommerce with Florida First Capital Finance Corporation.

Florida Department of Commerce (FloridaCommerce)
FloridaLoan guarantee

FL SSBCI Loan Guarantee

Gives a private lender a short-term, partial guarantee of up to 50 percent on a loan or line of credit to an eligible Florida small business. Proceeds can be used for most business purposes, including lines of credit, construction and working capital. It is administered by FloridaCommerce with Florida First Capital Finance Corporation.

Florida Department of Commerce (FloridaCommerce)
FloridaLoan participation

FL SSBCI Loan Participation

SSBCI funds are used alongside a private lender's loan, either as a companion loan or by buying a participation in the lender's loan, which reduces the lead lender's exposure. It is Florida's largest SSBCI program and is administered by FloridaCommerce with Florida First Capital Finance Corporation. Community banks and mission lenders, especially CDFIs, are the main lending partners.

Florida Department of Commerce (FloridaCommerce)

Federal programs in Florida

Available in every state
FederalLoan guarantee

SBA 7(a)

SBA's primary business loan program: SBA guarantees part of a loan a participating lender makes to an eligible small business that cannot get the credit on reasonable terms elsewhere. Standard 7(a) loans are 7(a) term loans above $350,000 and up to $5,000,000, used for real estate, equipment, working capital, debt refinancing and changes of ownership. Loans are made under SOP 50 10 8.1, effective October 1, 2026.

U.S. Small Business Administration
FederalLoan guarantee

SBA Express

SBA Express is a 7(a) delivery method for loans and revolving lines of credit up to $500,000 that lenders with SBA Express authority approve themselves, using their own forms, analysis and collateral policies. In exchange for this autonomy SBA guarantees at most 50% of the loan. SBA Express loans to veteran-owned businesses pay no upfront guaranty fee.

U.S. Small Business Administration
FederalLoan guarantee

SBA 504

The 504 program provides long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets such as land, buildings and long-life machinery. A typical project combines a senior loan from a private Third Party Lender (at least 50% of project cost), a junior loan from a Certified Development Company funded by a debenture that SBA guarantees 100% (up to 40%), and at least 10% from the borrower. Projects must create or retain jobs or meet a community development or public policy goal.

U.S. Small Business Administration
FederalMicroloan

SBA Microloan

The Microloan program provides loans of up to $50,000 to small businesses and certain nonprofit childcare centers through SBA-approved intermediaries, which are nonprofit, quasi-governmental or tribal lenders that also provide business training and technical assistance. SBA lends to the intermediaries and funds technical assistance grants; the intermediaries make the credit decisions and set loan terms. The average microloan is about $13,000.

U.S. Small Business Administration
FederalLoan guarantee

USDA B&I

The Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program guarantees loans that approved lenders make to businesses for projects in rural areas, generally any place outside a city or town of more than 50,000 people and its adjacent urbanized area. USDA Rural Development's Rural Business-Cooperative Service runs it under the OneRD guaranteed loan rule at 7 CFR part 5001. Loans can finance real estate, equipment, permanent working capital, business acquisitions and some debt refinancing, up to $25 million in total B&I loans per borrower.

USDA Rural Development
FederalOther

SSBCI

SSBCI is a federal program, run by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, that funds state, territory, District of Columbia and Tribal government programs supporting private small business lending and investment. Treasury does not lend. Each jurisdiction runs its own mix of capital access, loan participation, loan guarantee, collateral support and equity or venture capital programs under federal rules. Lenders take part by enrolling in the programs each jurisdiction runs.

U.S. Department of the Treasury

What changed in Florida

  • Guide
    FL CAP· FL SSBCI Collateral Support· FL SSBCI Loan Guarantee· FL SSBCI Loan Participation

    Treasury publishes SSBCI post-program FAQs

    Treasury's authority to run the SSBCI Capital Program ends on March 11, 2028. SSBCI money already sent to a state stays with the state after that date, and from then on a state may end a program, add one, change its scope or move funds between programs without Treasury approval. States may submit material modification requests to Treasury until September 30, 2027.

    What to do: Expect the state to be free to change or close this program after March 11, 2028. Confirm the current terms with the program office before relying on them for loans that will be enrolled or claimed after that date.

    Read the source
  • Guide
    FL CAP· FL SSBCI Collateral Support· FL SSBCI Loan Guarantee· FL SSBCI Loan Participation

    Treasury sets the final SSBCI disbursement deadlines

    Treasury cannot transfer SSBCI Capital Program funds to states after March 11, 2028, and states must submit final disbursement requests by December 31, 2027. Treasury expects to terminate a state's second and third tranches if, within three years of its allocation agreement, the state has not used at least 80 percent of its first tranche and asked for the next disbursement.

    What to do: Program capacity beyond the tranches the state has already received depends on the state meeting these deadlines. Check with the program office that funds are available before committing a borrower to an SSBCI-supported structure.

    Read the source
  • Program page
    FL CAP· FL SSBCI Collateral Support· FL SSBCI Loan Guarantee· FL SSBCI Loan Participation

    Florida receives its second SSBCI tranche of $167 million

    FloridaCommerce announced that it received the second of three Treasury tranches, $167 million, making it available for Florida's SSBCI capital programs. The first tranche of $142 million was received in December 2022 out of a $488 million total allocation.

    What to do: Program capacity was replenished. Lenders with deals in the pipeline can contact FloridaCommerce at SSBCI@commerce.fl.gov to enroll or confirm funding for a transaction.

    Read the source

Official sources we watch

Last reviewed Nov 13, 2026. A summary of official sources, linked beside each fact, kept current by Kita each week. Program rules change: confirm against the current source before you rely on a figure. Not legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@kita.ai.

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