§121.301. What size standards and affiliation principles are applicable to financial assistance programs? — Inbound Citations

(1) A determination that an area is “rural in character” will be made by the Under Secretary of Rural Development in compliance with 7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)(D). The process to request a determination under this provision is outlined in this definition. Units of local government may petition the Under Secretary of Rural Development for a “rural in character” designation by submitting a petition to the Administrator on behalf of the Under Secretary. The petition shall document why the petitioner believes the area is “rural in character” including, but not limited to, the area's population density, demographics, and topography and how the local economy is tied to a rural economic base. Upon receiving a petition, the Administrator will review its merits and consult with the applicable governor or leader in a similar position and request comments to be submitted within 5 business days, unless such comments were submitted with the petition. The petition will be forwarded to the Under Secretary who will release to the public a notice of a petition filed by a unit of local government not later than 30 days after receipt of the petition by way of publication in a local newspaper and posting on the Agency's website. The Under Secretary will make a determination not less than 15 days, but no more than 60 days, after the release of the notice. Upon a negative determination, the Under Secretary will provide to the petitioner an opportunity to appeal a determination to the Under Secretary, and the petitioner will have 10 business days to appeal the determination and provide further information for consideration. The Under Secretary will make a determination of the appeal in not less than 15 days, but no more than 30 days.

(h) Small business means a business, including a small farm or minority-owned small business, that meets the qualifications for Small Business Administration Development Company or Small Business Investment Company loan programs in 13 CFR 121.301.

(A) Loans that may be considered under paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section must be to businesses and farms that meet the size eligibility standards of the U.S. Small Business Administration Development Company (13 CFR 121.301) or Small Business Investment Company (13 CFR 121.301 and 121.201) programs or that meet the definition of small business or small farm in § 25.12.

(A) Loans that may be considered under paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section must be to businesses and farms that meet the size eligibility standards of the U.S. Small Business Administration Development Company (13 CFR 121.301) or Small Business Investment Company (13 CFR 121.301 and 121.201) programs or that meet the definition of small business or small farm in § 228.12.

(A) Loans that may be considered under paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section must be to businesses and farms that meet the size eligibility standards of the U.S. Small Business Administration Development Company (13 CFR 121.301) or Small Business Investment Company (13 CFR 121.301 and 121.201) programs or that meet the definition of small business or small farm in § 345.12.

(3) Provision of Technical Assistance and financial education to, or servicing the loans of, homeowners who are Eligible Residents and meet Low- and Moderate-Income requirements; and

(i) Reinvestor SBICs. Reinvestor SBIC means a Section 301(c) Partnership licensed as a Reinvestor SBIC under § 107.300 and approved by SBA at the time of licensing to issue Accrual Debentures and shall provide a meaningful percentage of Equity Capital Investments to underserved Small Business reinvestors (except banks, savings and loans not insured by agencies of the Federal Government, and agricultural credit companies) that make direct financings solely to Small Businesses with at least 50% of employees in the United States, Small Businesses Concerns headquartered in the United States, owned and controlled by United States citizens and/or entities, and Small Businesses eligible for investment based on SBA size standards defined in § 121.301 of this chapter or SBIC alternative size standards defined in § 121.301(c) of this chapter at the time of initial investment. SBA may require that each Reinvestor SBIC obtain from each such Small Business reinvestor a written agreement that such Small Business reinvestor has only provided and will only provide financing in compliance with this paragraph (a)(2)(i) and will provide to such Reinvestor SBIC information reasonably necessary to verify compliance with this paragraph (a)(2)(i). A Reinvestor SBIC may make Equity Capital Investments to Disadvantaged Businesses that are relenders or reinvestors, including Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Deposit Institutions (MDIs), and any such investments in CDFIs or MDIs pursuant to this section are not subject to the requirement that such CDFIs or MDIs make direct financings solely to Small Businesses. In addition to Equity Capital Investments, Reinvestor SBIC Licensees may provide long-term debt or loan financing to CDFIs and MDIs.

(8) For applicants in SBA's Business Loan, Disaster Loan, and Surety Bond Guarantee Programs, the size standards and bases for affiliation are set forth in § 121.301.

(i) Renewable plant material (including feed grains, other agricultural commodities, other plants and trees, and algae); and

(b) Together with its Affiliates, meet one of the size standards set forth in § 121.301(b) of this chapter.

(ii) Waste material (including crop residue, other vegetative waste material (including wood waste and wood residues), animal waste and byproducts (including fats, oils, greases, and manure), and food and yard waste).

Renewable energy means energy derived from—

(i) Reinvestor SBICs. Reinvestor SBIC means a Section 301(c) Partnership licensed as a Reinvestor SBIC under § 107.300 and approved by SBA at the time of licensing to issue Accrual Debentures and shall provide a meaningful percentage of Equity Capital Investments to underserved Small Business reinvestors (except banks, savings and loans not insured by agencies of the Federal Government, and agricultural credit companies) that make direct financings solely to Small Businesses with at least 50% of employees in the United States, Small Businesses Concerns headquartered in the United States, owned and controlled by United States citizens and/or entities, and Small Businesses eligible for investment based on SBA size standards defined in § 121.301 of this chapter or SBIC alternative size standards defined in § 121.301(c) of this chapter at the time of initial investment. SBA may require that each Reinvestor SBIC obtain from each such Small Business reinvestor a written agreement that such Small Business reinvestor has only provided and will only provide financing in compliance with this paragraph (a)(2)(i) and will provide to such Reinvestor SBIC information reasonably necessary to verify compliance with this paragraph (a)(2)(i). A Reinvestor SBIC may make Equity Capital Investments to Disadvantaged Businesses that are relenders or reinvestors, including Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Deposit Institutions (MDIs), and any such investments in CDFIs or MDIs pursuant to this section are not subject to the requirement that such CDFIs or MDIs make direct financings solely to Small Businesses. In addition to Equity Capital Investments, Reinvestor SBIC Licensees may provide long-term debt or loan financing to CDFIs and MDIs.

You are permitted to provide financial assistance and management services only to a Small Business. To determine whether an applicant is a Small Business, you may use either the financial size standards in § 121.301(c)(2) of this chapter or the industry standard covering the industry in which the applicant is primarily engaged, as set forth in § 121.301(c)(1) of this chapter.

You are permitted to provide financial assistance and management services only to a Small Business. To determine whether an applicant meets the size standards for a Small Business, you may use either the financial size standards in § 121.301(c)(1) of this chapter or the industry standard covering the industry in which the applicant is primarily engaged, as set forth in § 121.301(c)(2) of this chapter.

You are permitted to provide financial assistance and management services only to a Small Business. To determine whether an applicant is a Small Business, you may use either the financial size standards in § 121.301(c)(2) of this chapter or the industry standard covering the industry in which the applicant is primarily engaged, as set forth in § 121.301(c)(1) of this chapter.

You are permitted to provide financial assistance and management services only to a Small Business. To determine whether an applicant meets the size standards for a Small Business, you may use either the financial size standards in § 121.301(c)(1) of this chapter or the industry standard covering the industry in which the applicant is primarily engaged, as set forth in § 121.301(c)(2) of this chapter.

The following definitions are applicable to the capitalized terms used in this part.

Affiliate is defined in § 121.301(f) of this chapter.

Affiliate is defined in § 121.301(f) of this chapter.

The aggregate amount of the SBA portions of all loans to a single Borrower, including the Borrower's affiliates as defined in § 121.301(f) of this chapter, must not exceed a guaranty amount of $3,750,000, except as otherwise authorized by statute for a specific program. The maximum loan amount for any one 7(a) loan is $5,000,000. The amount of any loan received by an Eligible Passive Company applies to the loan limit of both the Eligible Passive Company and the Operating Company.