Whidbey News-Times – A regional bank with branches on Whidbey Island will receive $18 million in federal funding to boost small business lending.
According to a news release from U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwellâs office, Lynden-based Peopleâs Bancorp will receive the money from the Small Business Lending Fund. Part of the Small Business Job Act passed by Congress last September, the fund aims to jump-start the economy with increased lending.
âSmall businesses are the engine of our economy and stand ready to drive us out of this recession,â Cantwell said in the news release. âThe key ingredient to getting our small businesses investing, growing and hiring again is increased access to capital.â
According to the news release, small businesses employ about half of Americaâs workforce and account for about 60 percent of gross job creation. Small business owners faced âdisproportionate challenges in the aftermath of the recession and credit crisisâ with qualified lending being one of their biggest hurdles.
Cantwell, a member of the Senate Small Business and Finance committees, helped to create the lending fund in hopes that it would encourage small business growth.
The fund works by allowing community banks with assets of $10 billion and under to apply for financing from the Department of the Treasury at attractive rates. Itâs been built as a reward-based system.
As one of the most beautiful states in the unionâand one of the richest in natural resourcesâWashington has a special interest in energy and environmental policy. And Maria has fought hard to uphold the stateâs conservation tradition, while also working to bring our energy policy into the 21st century.
Maria knows Washingtonâs business community â because, as an executive at an innovative software company, she was part of it. And as a Senator, sheâs led the way in helping businesses large and small throughout Washington grow, thrive, and create jobs.
Maria has taken a leadership role on safety and security issues, including defending our borders, strengthening our military, cracking down on gangs, and taking on drug crime in Washington communities
Middle-class families around Washington and across the country are facing tough timesâand tough decisions about balancing the family checkbook each month. Maria has fought to strengthen the economic security of Washington families and cut taxes for middle-class families.
