.   From day one, my top priority has been creating jobs and getting Missouri's economy turned around. During my first 15 months in office, I have met with hundreds of Missouri small-business owners to pick their brains about what it takes to succeed in a difficult economy. As I listened to these hardworking Missourians discuss their aspirations and frustrations, dreams, and setbacks, a common theme emerged: Lack of access to capital is a major stumbling block for small business owners.

.   To help overcome this challenge, I created the Missouri Small-Business Loan Program. Through this innovative  program, businesses in Missouri with five employees or fewer can apply for loans of up to $25,000 to purchase equipment, hire more workers or address other financial needs. Even better, these loans are offered at 3 percent interest over 10 years - a great deal for Missouri entrepreneurs.

.   To date, 48 small businesses have received these loans, including Web site developers, landscape companies, cattle operations, woodworkers, and plumbing contractors. These small businesses - in every corner of Missouri - are creating jobs and moving our economy forward.

.   Our Small-Business Loan Program has been a great success, and we still have more than $800,000 to award. We want to get these funds out into our economy as quickly as possible. For this reason, I am asking you to share this information with your members right away. Encourage small businesses in your area to visit MO.gov to apply to take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity.

.   We all know how critical Missouri's small businesses are to our economy. With your help, we can provide our entrepreneurs with a boost that will lead to more jobs and more growth for Missouri.

Jay Nixon
Governor