Jean Wojtowicz, Indiana small-business financing leader, named to national Hall of Fame honoring SBA lenders

Indiana's Jean Wojtowicz (woe-tow-witz) is the newest member of the Hall of Fame for the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO). NADCO is the trade association of Certified Development Companies (CDC's) deliver-ing U.S. Small Business Administration 504 loans to small companies. Wojtowicz is founder and executive director of Indiana Statewide Certified Development Corporation. Her organization works with local bank lenders to provide SBA 504 financing, a type of loan that helps small-business owners gain affordable financing for expanding or starting their companies. Wojtowicz is only the 23rd inductee to the NADCO Hall of Fame since 1991. NADCO's website says Hall of Fame honorees are "individuals that have contributed above and beyond to ensure the success of the SBA 504 industry." They include members of Congress, congressional staff, SBA administrators and staff, and also some CDC lenders that have helped set SBA 504 policy. NADCO was founded in 1981 and is based in suburban Washington, D.C. Wojtowicz's Indiana Statewide CDC is one of five NADCO members in Indiana. Indiana Statewide CDC has approved over $798 million of financing for more than 1,650 Indiana companies since 1983, creating or saving more than 30,000 jobs. When the bank share of the loans and borrowers' down payments are included, these projects represent more than $2.0 billion in expansion financing for Indiana businesses. SBA 504 loans are more affordable for small businesses than regular commercial financing. SBA 504 loans are available at 10 percent down with 25, 20, and 10-year fixed interest rates. Similar terms are routinely available to large companies, but not to small businesses until Congress created the 504 loans. The 504 program helps owners of small businesses purchase and renovate land, buildings and equipment, as well as position themselves for regular commercial credit. Wojtowicz says Indiana Statewide CDC focuses on the people involved in small companies. "We get a tremendous amount of joy in knowing we had a role in helping small businesses become successful, and in knowing their employees can support their families." Wojtowicz also founded and is president of Cambridge Capital Management Corporation, a company that manages Indiana Statewide CDC and several other small-business financing programs. Background: Indiana Statewide CDC has approved over $798 million of financing for more than 1,650 Indiana companies since 1983, creating or saving more than 30,000 jobs, and is the most prolific CDC in Indiana. These projects represent more than $2.0 billion in expansion financing for Indiana businesses, when bank funding and borrowers' down payments are included. National Association of Certified Development Corporations (www.nadco.org) is the trade association of SBA Certified Development Companies and other lenders delivering SBA 504 loans to small businesses. SBA 504 loans are available at 10 percent down with 25, 20 and 10-year fixed interest rates to help small businesses to buy and renovate land, buildings and equipment. NADCO was founded in 1981.