Companies earn prestige through the SBA 100 program

8/2/2011

Companies receiving government-backed commercial loans have a high bar to reach to become one of the "SBA 100." The U.S. Small Business Administration recognizes 100 companies that create 100 jobs thanks to help from SBA lending.

Featured businesses win a certain degree of the prestige from the administration, local officials and industry experts, in addition to having a label of success to add to marketing.

SBA head Karen Mills is planning a tour of Full Compass Systems in Wisconsin to acknowledge the company's achievement of reaching more than 100 new employees since receiving their funding. According to the SBA, Full Compass created 185 new jobs in addition to expanding its facility and profits.

The program is open to many types of businesses, including the professional audio and video industry of which Full Compass is a part. The SBA estimates that more than 10,000 jobs have been created by companies in the SBA 100 program, which is about half the unemployment rate of Wisconsin.

The SBA 100 includes a diverse list of companies, from restaurant franchise Carl's Jr. (originally based in Alaska) to the Marinello School of Beauty in Whittier, California.