The NICAR database library has updated data from two Small Business Administration loan programs:

• The 7a loans program provides loans to small business owners who can't obtain financing through traditional channels. The database covers loans from 1950 - Sept. 30, 2013. See below for more details.
• The disaster loans program is the primary form of federal assistance for non-farm, private-sector disaster losses. The database covers loans from 1980 - Feb 28, 2014. See below for more details.

SBA 7A LOANS

What's in it?

The 7a program is the SBA's most common loan program. The program operates through private-sector lenders who provide loans that are, in turn, guaranteed by the SBA. The SBA 7a program itself has no funds for direct lending or grants. The data contain information on the business getting the loan including address and industry code, the bank lending the money, the amount loaned, the interest rate, and (where applicable) whether the loan was paid in full or charged off.

What f​ormat?

SBA 7a data come in tab-delimited text (.txt) format, easily imported or linked in Access and other database managers. If you'd like something different, we'll do our best to help you out.  Email datalib@ire.org or call (573) 884-7711.​​

What can I do with it?

You can identify the businesses in your area with loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and find out which financial institutions are making those loans. Use 7a data to explore repayment of SBA loans by businesses in your community​, find out which financial institutions are major SBA lenders and find out what types of businesses are getting the loans. The data can also help you investigate how the SBA works with state and local agencies to lend money to small businesses.

SBA DISASTER LOANS

What's in it?

​The disaster loans program is the only form of SBA assistance not limited to small businesses; they help homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations finance their rebuilding. The data ha​s information on the borrower, including name and address (although not necessarily the address of the damaged property); whether or not the damaged property is a home or business; the date and total amount approved for the loan; and the declared disaster that caused the damage.

What format?

The SBA Disaster Loans data are offered in .CSV format. If you'd like something else, we'll try to help -- email us at datalib@ire.org or call (573) 884-7711.

What can I do with it?

Journalists use the data to follow money that flows into a community hit by a disaster, to track trends, to identify those who received loans in their community and find starting points to investigate disaster spending. You can also uncover what types of businesses had the most post-disaster loan approvals and determine how much rebuilding is planned. For historic disasters, find out what happened to the money and if the rebuilding happened.

If you have any questions, concerns, or additional needs, call the Database Library at (573) 884-7711 or email datalib@ire.org

Liz Lucas, Director

Travis Hartman

Qing Tian

James Gordon​

About NICAR

NICAR is a joint program of IRE and the Missouri School of Journalism. We provide data only to journalists. In addition to increasing your reporting resources, when you purchase data from IRE and NICAR you're helping to ensure our ability to continue offering databases for journalists and training to help them use the data accurately and credibly. For journalists who seek training on how to use this and other databases, check our training Web page at https://www.ire.org/events-and-training/.