Gaps Persist Amid Small-Business Lending Comeback In 2011, SBA lending hit a record level. SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills explains why.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

In 2011, lending programs from the U.S. Small Business Administration hit record levels. SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills says lending is back in the market, but there are still gaps.

Look for more coverage of Small Business Week 2012.

Related: Small Business and the President's Cabinet (Video)

Related: The SBA's Karen G. Mills on the Small-Business Recovery (Video)

Related: SBA Chief Karen G. Mills on the Small-Business Lending Comeback (Video)

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

Dog-Lovers' Side Hustle 'Took Off Right Away' and Made More Than $30,000 a Month — Now It's About to Hit $2.3 Million

Childhood friends Teddy Tawil and Irving Fallas turned their passion for pets into a successful business.

Business News

'Pre-Boarding Scam': Customers Furious at Southwest Airlines After 20 Passengers Ask For Wheelchair Assistance to Board

A viral tweet is slamming the airline's wheelchair policy for boarding and disembarking.

Personal Finance

Are You Investing Like a Gambler?

Learn the real skills that are driving the most successful investors.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

No Meetings, Up to $30 Per Hour, Fully Remote: A College Student Training AI Says the Work Is 'Perfect' for Introverts

He works 30 hours a week without a direct boss, daily meetings, or contact with coworkers.

Business News

'Affluent People Love a Deal': These Luxury Items Are Flying Off the Shelves at Costco, According to the Company's Longtime Chairman

Some Costco customers are washing down their $1.50 hot dog combo with fancy Champagne, apparently.