The Small Business Administration backed loans worth $27.5 billion through its primary lending program in 2023—rising well above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels as government officials aim to stabilize the economy.
Many small businesses get their start and scale up with SBA loans, which increased lending to Black, Latino, and women entrepreneurs in the past few years in step with efforts to become more equitable.
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Flippa found the county in Virginia where applicants were approved for the most SBA loan funds per capita in fiscal year 2023, which ended in September. The analysis was based on the SBA's most common loan program, known as 7(a) loans. SBA's 7(a) program provides extra security to lenders when they loan money to small businesses that might otherwise be considered too risky to grant. Loans can be for up to $5 million, but in 2023, nearly 7 in 10 loans were for amounts of $350,000 or less. Small businesses can use these funds for real estate acquisitions or improvements, working capital, supplies and equipment, and for other business startup or acquisition purposes.
Barriers do still exist for eligibility, including income, credit history, and location, but SBA loans can be fruitful for founders who don't qualify for conventional business financing. They can also provide protection against high and volatile interest rates, as SBA-backed loans have maximum interest rates that are predictable and often lower than other loans.
In a national analysis of the #1 ranked counties in every state, all but two counties had populations of less than 500,000—most smaller than 100,000. That's not surprising, as the Census Bureau classifies about 99% of U.S. counties as small. Still, it signifies that these smaller communities are building successful entrepreneurial environments. In most cases, their small businesses are able to succeed beyond those within the major U.S. population centers—at least in terms of success in gaining SBA funding.
Read on to see whether your county ranks among those receiving the most SBA loans.
#50. Chesterfield County
- SBA approved about $42.55 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $15.3 million - Number of loans: 43
#49. Norfolk
- SBA approved about $43.23 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $10.3 million - Number of loans: 15
#48. Roanoke County
- SBA approved about $43.56 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $4.2 million - Number of loans: 8
#47. Charlottesville
- SBA approved about $43.99 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $2.1 million - Number of loans: 2
#46. Powhatan County
- SBA approved about $44.30 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $1.3 million - Number of loans: 4
#45. New Kent County
- SBA approved about $47.00 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $1.1 million - Number of loans: 2
#44. Prince William County
- SBA approved about $47.33 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $22.6 million - Number of loans: 62
#43. Amelia County
- SBA approved about $48.79 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $645,000 - Number of loans: 2
#42. Salem
- SBA approved about $53.57 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $1.4 million - Number of loans: 2
#41. Louisa County
- SBA approved about $54.10 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $2.0 million - Number of loans: 5
#40. Campbell County
- SBA approved about $54.62 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $3.0 million - Number of loans: 4
#39. Bedford County
- SBA approved about $56.03 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $4.4 million - Number of loans: 7
#38. Henrico County
- SBA approved about $57.14 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $19.0 million - Number of loans: 28
#37. Spotsylvania County
- SBA approved about $58.52 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $8.1 million - Number of loans: 15
#36. Arlington County
- SBA approved about $60.08 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $14.2 million - Number of loans: 29
#35. Stafford County
- SBA approved about $62.60 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $9.7 million - Number of loans: 25
#34. Fauquier County
- SBA approved about $62.79 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $4.5 million - Number of loans: 15
#33. Carroll County
- SBA approved about $63.11 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $1.8 million - Number of loans: 3
#32. Chesapeake
- SBA approved about $63.63 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $15.7 million - Number of loans: 35
#31. Fairfax County
- SBA approved about $67.68 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $77.6 million - Number of loans: 194
#30. Williamsburg
- SBA approved about $68.63 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $1.1 million - Number of loans: 1
#29. Virginia Beach
- SBA approved about $70.67 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $32.3 million - Number of loans: 49
#28. Fredericksburg
- SBA approved about $76.90 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $2.2 million - Number of loans: 11
#27. Orange County
- SBA approved about $78.26 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $2.8 million - Number of loans: 3
#26. Greene County
- SBA approved about $81.48 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $1.7 million - Number of loans: 2
#25. Frederick County
- SBA approved about $84.50 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $7.6 million - Number of loans: 7
#24. Mathews County
- SBA approved about $88.91 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $760,000 - Number of loans: 1
#23. Danville
- SBA approved about $97.64 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $4.2 million - Number of loans: 7
#22. Loudoun County
- SBA approved about $97.71 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $40.4 million - Number of loans: 91
#21. Appomattox County
- SBA approved about $103.67 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $1.7 million - Number of loans: 4
#20. Warren County
- SBA approved about $109.63 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $4.4 million - Number of loans: 3
#19. Roanoke County
- SBA approved about $113.46 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $10.9 million - Number of loans: 12
#18. Northampton County
- SBA approved about $113.69 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $1.4 million - Number of loans: 1
#17. Halifax County
- SBA approved about $116.13 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $4.0 million - Number of loans: 1
#16. Alexandria
- SBA approved about $116.25 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $18.4 million - Number of loans: 37
#15. Franklin County
- SBA approved about $118.17 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $6.5 million - Number of loans: 4
#14. Hanover County
- SBA approved about $118.62 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $13.0 million - Number of loans: 20
#13. Greensville County
- SBA approved about $118.84 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $1.4 million - Number of loans: 2
#12. Radford
- SBA approved about $159.70 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $2.6 million - Number of loans: 2
#11. Alleghany County
- SBA approved about $165.66 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $2.5 million - Number of loans: 1
#10. Westmoreland County
- SBA approved about $174.47 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $3.2 million - Number of loans: 1
#9. Washington County
- SBA approved about $184.42 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $10.0 million - Number of loans: 15
#8. Winchester
- SBA approved about $187.37 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $5.3 million - Number of loans: 3
#7. Clarke County
- SBA approved about $191.74 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $2.8 million - Number of loans: 1
#6. Manassas
- SBA approved about $255.23 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $10.9 million - Number of loans: 12
#5. Staunton
- SBA approved about $256.64 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $6.5 million - Number of loans: 4
#4. Grayson County
- SBA approved about $291.87 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $4.5 million - Number of loans: 1
#3. Wythe County
- SBA approved about $472.70 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $13.4 million - Number of loans: 6
#2. Lancaster County
- SBA approved about $565.82 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $6.2 million - Number of loans: 4
#1. Richmond County
- SBA approved about $777.00 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023. - Total approved funds: $6.9 million - Number of loans: 22
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
This story originally appeared on Flippa and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
