I will never profess to be an economist or meteorologist although my predictions can be equally incorrect.  I predict the dismal volume of SBA loans is poised to take off.  I have been working with SBA loan groups, CDCs and small business borrowers for well over a decade.  I have been presenting an environmental workshop for the last six years at the annual SBA Lender's Confence in Michigan and was pleased last Friday to see attendence was only down roughly ten percent.  I sit on a panel for an intro 101 workshop and present for a second workshop on navigating complex environmental issues and application of SBA policy exceptions.  The first course had a great group of  lenders eager to be educated in environmental due diligence to make deals happen.  I have also heard a number of commercial realtors educating buyers on SBA lending as it is one of the only solid sources to fund owner occupied.  Credit Unions are also anxious to get in the game with SBA lending as another option on their menu of commercial services.

These are positives signs that SBA is ready to take off and also sets the tone for some common defectors of environmental due diligence to learn a minimum level of due diligence while following the SBA policy.  Hopefully they will learn the power of quality work.