[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 187 (Friday, September 25, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60508-60509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21132]


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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION


Data Collection Available for Public Comments

ACTION: 60-Day notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Small Business Administration (SBA) plans to seek 
approval, from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct the 
data collection activities described below. The Paperwork Reduction Act 
requires federal agencies to publish a notice in the Federal Register 
concerning each proposed collection of information to OMB, and to allow 
60 days for the public to comment in response to the notice. This 
notice complies with such requirements and announces the SBA's proposal 
to conduct a survey of small businesses and lenders who participated in 
the SBA's Microloan program.

DATES: Submit comments on or before November 20, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments to Shay Meinzer, Lead Program Evaluator, 
Office of Program Performance, Analysis, and Evaluation, Small Business 
Administration, 409 3rd Street, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20416.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shay Meinzer, Lead Program Evaluator, 
Office of Program Performance, Analysis, and Evaluation, Small Business 
Administration, [email protected], 202-539-1429, or Curtis B. Rich, 
Management Analyst, 202-205-7030, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a request for the collection of new 
information.
    The purpose of the Microloan Program is to assist women, low 
income, veteran, and minority entrepreneurs, and other small

[[Page 60509]]

businesses in need of small amounts of financial assistance. Under the 
Microloan Program, the SBA makes direct loans to intermediaries 
(lenders) that, in turn, use the proceeds to make microloans (i.e., 
loans of $50,000 or less) and to provide training and technical 
assistance to eligible borrowers in their SBA approved geographic 
service areas. By offering financing and assistance to these 
businesses, the Microloan Program aims to support job creation and 
retention for small businesses by providing access to financial capital 
unavailable through conventional channels.
    The SBA is conducting an evaluation to examine how the Microloan 
Program activities of lending and technical assistance improve revenue, 
job creation, and survival for businesses that participate in the 
program. The evaluation also seeks to describe the population of 
borrowers, their business characteristics and their experiences with 
the program. The lender characteristics, and the training and technical 
assistance provided to borrowers will also be described. The results of 
the evaluation will be used to develop recommendations to improve the 
program. The recommendations will focus on improving access to 
financing, improving technical assistance and training, and improving 
other factors that promote small business growth.
    The SBA proposes the use of four data collection instruments: (1) 
Borrower Web survey, (2) borrower semi-structured telephone interview, 
(3) lender web survey, (4) lender semi-structured telephone interview. 
The borrower survey will cover the topics of (1) training and technical 
assistance received; (2) program satisfaction and ratings of the 
program's contribution to the business growth; (3) how the Microloan 
program experiences compare with other programs; and (4) suggestions 
for the program improvements. The interviews with lenders will discuss 
(1) frequency and purpose of contacts with borrowers; (2) the most and 
the least effective types of training and technical assistance; (3) how 
the Microloan program experiences compare with other programs; and (4) 
suggestions for the program improvements.

Summary of Proposed Information Collection

Borrower Web Survey

    Description of Respondents: Microloan program borrowers who 
received microloans 2010-2019.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 865.
    Frequency of Response: Once per request.
    Estimated Annual Responses: 865.
    Estimated Average Minutes per Response: 20.
    Estimated Annual Hour Burden: 288.

Borrower Telephone Interview

    Description of Respondents: Microloan program borrowers who 
received microloans 2010-2019.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 24.
    Frequency of Response: Once per request.
    Estimated Annual Responses: 24.
    Estimated Average Minutes per Response: 20.
    Estimated Annual Hour Burden: 8.

Lender Web Survey

    Description of Respondents: Microloan program lenders who 
participated in the program 2010-2019.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 150.
    Frequency of Response: Once per request.
    Estimated Annual Responses: 150.
    Estimated Average Minutes per Response: 15.
    Estimated Annual Hour Burden: 38.

Lender Telephone Interview

    Description of Respondents: Microloan program lenders who 
participated in the program 2010-2019.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 24.
    Frequency of Response: Once per request.
    Estimated Annual Responses: 24.
    Estimated Average Minutes per Response: 20.
    Estimated Annual Hour Burden: 8.
    Solicitation of Public Comments: The SBA requests comments on (a) 
whether the collection of information is necessary for the agency to 
properly perform its functions; (b) whether the burden estimates are 
accurate; (c) whether there are ways to minimize the burden, including 
through the use of automated techniques or other forms of information 
technology; and (d) whether there are ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information collected. Comments submitted 
in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the 
request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will 
become a matter of public record.

Curtis Rich,
Management Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2020-21132 Filed 9-24-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8026-03-P