SBA to offer additional help

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering a new program called Emerging 200.

It will target 200 business owners across the nation who could benefit from low-interest loans, working with mentors and participating in workshops and classes.

Here’s the catch: your business MUST be located in one of the following areas: Boston; Baltimore; Chicago; Philadelphia; Atlanta; New Orleans; Memphis, Tenn.; Des Moines, Iowa; Milwaukee; Albuquerque, N.M., and Oakland, Calif.

Participating companies must also have at least $400,000 in annual revenue and have been in business for at least three years.

The SBA asked 55 cities that had low or negative compound annual job-growth rates in pockets of the cities from 1998 to 2005 to apply for the program. Of those invited, 23 sent in applications.