MOUN[AIN $[AIE$

By KENT MOXEY executive vice president

Dri"g the winter months you may have time to analyze your business, identify weak areas and take positive action to improve. Perhaps some outside assistarce would be of value to you in this project.

The Small Business Administration can help you. This agency was created by Congress in 1953 with the declared policy "...that the government should aid, counsel, assist, and protect, insofar as is possible, the irtterests of smali business conceflls in order to preserve free competitive enterprise...to mailtain and sirengthen the overall economy of the nation."

The popular concePt seems to be that the SBA is the Place to go when you need a business loan. True! If you need to borrow, a good way to start would be to read SBA's "The ABC's of Borrowi.ng." It contains a lot of good advice, whether or not your borrowing involves the SBA. The filancial assistalrce programs of the SBA are mauY, f or construction, expansiotl equipment, working capital-direct and participating loans, disaster loaus, etc. SBA also has programs ou lease guarantees, surety. bonds. small business investment com-