Title 12 › Chapter 54— STATE SMALL BUSINESS CREDIT INITIATIVE › § 5703
States can ask the Secretary to approve them to join the program and get federal money. To be approved, a state must name a specific office or agency to run the program, finish any legal steps needed so that office can act, file the right application for either a State capital access program or another credit-support program within the deadlines in those program rules, and sign an allocation agreement with the Secretary. That agreement must follow the chapter’s rules, make the state follow national standards set by the Secretary, set up internal controls, reporting, and allow audits, require the state program to be ready to provide credit support within 90 days after signing, and include an annual schedule showing how the state will split the federal funds among its programs. A state may hire another approved state’s program or an authorized agent (including for-profit or non-profit entities) to run its program. If a state does not give notice within 60 days after March 11, 2021, or does not file a full application within 9 months after March 11, 2021, the Secretary may let cities or towns in that state apply directly. Those municipalities must file a full application within 12 months after March 11, 2021, may join together, and must meet the same approval rules. If more than three municipalities qualify, funds go to the three largest by population; if three or fewer qualify, each gets funds. Approved municipal applicants share the state’s full allocation based on population from the most recent decennial census, and the Secretary will consider the extra factors listed in section 5705(d) when deciding eligibility.
Full Legal Text
Banks and Banking — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
12 U.S.C. § 5703
Title 12 — Banks and Banking
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60