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Counties receiving the most SBA loans in Tennessee
The Small Business Administration backed loans worth $27.5 billion through its primary lending program in 2023—rising well above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels as government officials aim to stabilize the economy.
Many small businesses get their start and scale up with SBA loans, which increased lending to Black, Latino, and women entrepreneurs in the past few years in step with efforts to become more equitable.
Flippa found the county in Tennessee where applicants were approved for the most SBA loan funds per capita in fiscal year 2023, which ended in September. The analysis was based on the SBA's most common loan program, known as 7(a) loans. SBA's 7(a) program provides extra security to lenders when they loan money to small businesses that might otherwise be considered too risky to grant. Loans can be for up to $5 million, but in 2023, nearly 7 in 10 loans were for amounts of $350,000 or less. Small businesses can use these funds for real estate acquisitions or improvements, working capital, supplies and equipment, and for other business startup or acquisition purposes.
Barriers do still exist for eligibility, including income, credit history, and location, but SBA loans can be fruitful for founders who don't qualify for conventional business financing. They can also provide protection against high and volatile interest rates, as SBA-backed loans have maximum interest rates that are predictable and often lower than other loans.
In a national analysis of the #1 ranked counties in every state, all but two counties had populations of less than 500,000—most smaller than 100,000. That's not surprising, as the Census Bureau classifies about 99% of U.S. counties as small. Still, it signifies that these smaller communities are building successful entrepreneurial environments. In most cases, their small businesses are able to succeed beyond those within the major U.S. population centers—at least in terms of success in gaining SBA funding.
Read on to see whether your county ranks among those receiving the most SBA loans.
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#50. Hardeman County
- SBA approved about $7.38 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $189,000
- Number of loans: 1
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#49. Hamblen County
- SBA approved about $8.49 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $545,000
- Number of loans: 4
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#48. Cocke County
- SBA approved about $9.53 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $342,000
- Number of loans: 1
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#47. Crockett County
- SBA approved about $10.74 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $150,500
- Number of loans: 2
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#46. Dyer County
- SBA approved about $13.37 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $494,500
- Number of loans: 1
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#45. Lawrence County
- SBA approved about $14.56 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $640,000
- Number of loans: 3
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#44. Lauderdale County
- SBA approved about $14.67 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $372,600
- Number of loans: 1
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#43. Dickson County
- SBA approved about $17.98 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $970,900
- Number of loans: 4
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#42. Washington County
- SBA approved about $18.26 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.4 million
- Number of loans: 10
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#41. Claiborne County
- SBA approved about $19.46 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $622,000
- Number of loans: 1
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#40. Sumner County
- SBA approved about $21.60 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $4.2 million
- Number of loans: 19
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#39. Greene County
- SBA approved about $24.54 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $1.7 million
- Number of loans: 5
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#38. Anderson County
- SBA approved about $24.56 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $1.9 million
- Number of loans: 3
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#37. Bradley County
- SBA approved about $24.71 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.7 million
- Number of loans: 5
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#36. Unicoi County
- SBA approved about $25.15 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $450,000
- Number of loans: 2
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#35. Roane County
- SBA approved about $25.51 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $1.4 million
- Number of loans: 1
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#34. Putnam County
- SBA approved about $29.50 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.3 million
- Number of loans: 5
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#33. Jefferson County
- SBA approved about $30.54 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $1.7 million
- Number of loans: 4
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#32. Fayette County
- SBA approved about $32.41 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $1.3 million
- Number of loans: 3
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#31. Humphreys County
- SBA approved about $32.44 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $615,000
- Number of loans: 2
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#30. Henry County
- SBA approved about $36.07 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $1.2 million
- Number of loans: 1
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#29. Maury County
- SBA approved about $37.55 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $3.7 million
- Number of loans: 14
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#28. Blount County
- SBA approved about $37.71 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $5.1 million
- Number of loans: 9
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#27. Fentress County
- SBA approved about $38.07 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $700,000
- Number of loans: 1
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#26. Obion County
- SBA approved about $38.73 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $1.2 million
- Number of loans: 1
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#25. Shelby County
- SBA approved about $42.14 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $39.2 million
- Number of loans: 67
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#24. Sullivan County
- SBA approved about $42.83 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $6.8 million
- Number of loans: 11
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#23. Marion County
- SBA approved about $44.12 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $1.3 million
- Number of loans: 3
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#22. Cannon County
- SBA approved about $46.72 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $668,500
- Number of loans: 2
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#21. Montgomery County
- SBA approved about $53.65 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $11.6 million
- Number of loans: 27
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#20. Polk County
- SBA approved about $53.88 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $943,000
- Number of loans: 1
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#19. Carroll County
- SBA approved about $55.38 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $1.6 million
- Number of loans: 2
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#18. Robertson County
- SBA approved about $59.79 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $4.3 million
- Number of loans: 9
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#17. Rutherford County
- SBA approved about $63.26 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $21.2 million
- Number of loans: 38
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#16. Rhea County
- SBA approved about $63.94 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.1 million
- Number of loans: 3
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#15. Giles County
- SBA approved about $64.08 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $1.9 million
- Number of loans: 2
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#14. Knox County
- SBA approved about $64.90 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $30.8 million
- Number of loans: 50
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#13. Hamilton County
- SBA approved about $65.20 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $23.7 million
- Number of loans: 44
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#12. Wilson County
- SBA approved about $65.90 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $9.5 million
- Number of loans: 17
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#11. Lincoln County
- SBA approved about $73.48 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.6 million
- Number of loans: 3
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#10. Loudon County
- SBA approved about $74.60 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $4.1 million
- Number of loans: 3
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#9. Hawkins County
- SBA approved about $94.10 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $5.3 million
- Number of loans: 5
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#8. Tipton County
- SBA approved about $97.90 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $6.0 million
- Number of loans: 5
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#7. Coffee County
- SBA approved about $100.88 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $5.8 million
- Number of loans: 7
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#6. Franklin County
- SBA approved about $103.41 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $4.4 million
- Number of loans: 3
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#5. Marshall County
- SBA approved about $106.23 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $3.6 million
- Number of loans: 5
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#4. Davidson County
- SBA approved about $125.11 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $88.6 million
- Number of loans: 154
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#3. Sevier County
- SBA approved about $138.13 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $13.5 million
- Number of loans: 9
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#2. Williamson County
- SBA approved about $171.44 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $41.6 million
- Number of loans: 66
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#1. Decatur County
- SBA approved about $262.00 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $3.0 million
- Number of loans: 2
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
This story originally appeared on Flippa and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.