Comment on FR Doc # fr_doc_num

Bremer Bank, NA strongly supports the adoption of the Alternative Size Standard for the 7(a) program. And, we believe that this change should be made permanent and not end with the expiration of the Recovery Act provisions. SBA’s preamble to the Interim Final Rule provides the justification for this recommendation: Small businesses are critical to the nation’s economy and are responsible for most new private sector jobs created and roughly 50% of the non-farm employment bases. Access to capital at affordable rates and attractive terms is the lifeblood of a healthy small business sector. We fully agree with those statements, and urge you to make the temporary Alternative Size Standard provided in this Interim Final Rule permanent. This action is critically important because we know that, even after the Recovery Act financing provisions have expired, the approximately 70,000 additional small businesses that will qualify for 7(a) program loans as a result of this temporary change will continue to need the credit that the program can provide if they are to be able to fully participate in the nation’s economic recovery efforts.