President Obama signed the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act into law earlier today, Sept. 27. The law creates a $30 billion resource to activate greater lending to small businesses by community banks.
The law also includes an extension of a program that lets businesses write-off 50% of the cost of newly purchased depreciable property. In addition, it expands and extends a program that lets companies write off up to $500,000 in capital expenditures in tax years 2010 and 2011, which is double the current limit for 2010.
The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) lobbied heavily for the act's passage. "For months, our member companies and small businesses across the country have struggled to gain access to capital and credit," says SEMA CEO and President Chris Kersting.
"In many cases, tougher credit access has nothing to do with the SEMA member's business and everything to do with the bank's difficulties in meeting current lending to capital ratio requirements. Under this new law, funding for loans will be infused into community banks nationwide that are positioned to lend, helping small businesses to become an engine for economic growth and recovery."
