This story originally appeared on Flippa and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Parishes receiving the most SBA loans in Louisiana
The Small Business Administration backed loans worth $27.5 billion through its primary lending program in 2023—rising well above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels as government officials aim to stabilize the economy.
Many small businesses get their start and scale up with SBA loans, which increased lending to Black, Latino, and women entrepreneurs in the past few years in step with efforts to become more equitable.
Flippa found the parish in Louisiana where applicants were approved for the most SBA loan funds per capita in fiscal year 2023, which ended in September. The analysis was based on the SBA's most common loan program, known as 7(a) loans. SBA's 7(a) program provides extra security to lenders when they loan money to small businesses that might otherwise be considered too risky to grant. Loans can be for up to $5 million, but in 2023, nearly 7 in 10 loans were for amounts of $350,000 or less. Small businesses can use these funds for real estate acquisitions or improvements, working capital, supplies and equipment, and for other business startup or acquisition purposes.
Barriers do still exist for eligibility, including income, credit history, and location, but SBA loans can be fruitful for founders who don't qualify for conventional business financing. They can also provide protection against high and volatile interest rates, as SBA-backed loans have maximum interest rates that are predictable and often lower than other loans.
In a national analysis of the #1 ranked counties in every state, all but two counties had populations of less than 500,000—most smaller than 100,000. That's not surprising, as the Census Bureau classifies about 99% of U.S. counties as small. Still, it signifies that these smaller communities are building successful entrepreneurial environments. In most cases, their small businesses are able to succeed beyond those within the major U.S. population centers—at least in terms of success in gaining SBA funding.
Read on to see whether your parish ranks among those receiving the most SBA loans.
#41. Washington Parish
- SBA approved about $0.22 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $10,000
- Number of loans: 1
#40. St. Helena Parish
- SBA approved about $2.11 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $23,000
- Number of loans: 1
#39. Jefferson Davis Parish
- SBA approved about $3.87 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $125,000
- Number of loans: 1
#38. Evangeline Parish
- SBA approved about $4.15 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $135,000
- Number of loans: 2
#37. St. Bernard Parish
- SBA approved about $4.56 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $200,000
- Number of loans: 2
#36. Acadia Parish
- SBA approved about $5.84 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $340,000
- Number of loans: 1
#35. St. Mary Parish
- SBA approved about $7.55 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $376,000
- Number of loans: 3
#34. St. John the Baptist Parish
- SBA approved about $10.70 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $456,900
- Number of loans: 3
#33. Jackson Parish
- SBA approved about $11.17 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $170,000
- Number of loans: 1
#32. De Soto Parish
- SBA approved about $13.06 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $350,000
- Number of loans: 1
#31. Ouachita Parish
- SBA approved about $14.82 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.4 million
- Number of loans: 7
#30. Livingston Parish
- SBA approved about $15.55 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.2 million
- Number of loans: 11
#29. Pointe Coupee Parish
- SBA approved about $18.40 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $385,500
- Number of loans: 3
#28. Webster Parish
- SBA approved about $21.68 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $810,000
- Number of loans: 1
#27. Caddo Parish
- SBA approved about $21.73 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $5.2 million
- Number of loans: 19
#26. Rapides Parish
- SBA approved about $32.02 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $4.2 million
- Number of loans: 10
#25. Iberia Parish
- SBA approved about $33.42 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.4 million
- Number of loans: 4
#24. Union Parish
- SBA approved about $34.22 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $728,000
- Number of loans: 2
#23. Sabine Parish
- SBA approved about $42.41 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $949,000
- Number of loans: 3
#22. St. Charles Parish
- SBA approved about $50.08 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.6 million
- Number of loans: 4
#21. Ascension Parish
- SBA approved about $50.35 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $6.3 million
- Number of loans: 19
#20. Bossier Parish
- SBA approved about $52.92 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $6.8 million
- Number of loans: 8
#19. Tangipahoa Parish
- SBA approved about $53.23 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $7.1 million
- Number of loans: 16
#18. Morehouse Parish
- SBA approved about $61.89 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $1.6 million
- Number of loans: 1
#17. East Baton Rouge Parish
- SBA approved about $65.42 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $29.8 million
- Number of loans: 38
#16. Jefferson Parish
- SBA approved about $69.16 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $30.4 million
- Number of loans: 60
#15. St. Landry Parish
- SBA approved about $69.52 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $5.8 million
- Number of loans: 9
#14. Calcasieu Parish
- SBA approved about $69.75 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $14.8 million
- Number of loans: 24
#13. Beauregard Parish
- SBA approved about $71.67 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.6 million
- Number of loans: 2
#12. St. Tammany Parish
- SBA approved about $72.80 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $19.1 million
- Number of loans: 41
#11. New Orleans
- SBA approved about $73.34 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $28.2 million
- Number of loans: 45
#10. Terrebonne Parish
- SBA approved about $74.78 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $8.2 million
- Number of loans: 8
#9. Plaquemines Parish
- SBA approved about $84.01 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.0 million
- Number of loans: 4
#8. Caldwell Parish
- SBA approved about $96.24 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $934,200
- Number of loans: 4
#7. Lafayette Parish
- SBA approved about $96.45 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $23.3 million
- Number of loans: 40
#6. Vermilion Parish
- SBA approved about $113.92 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $6.6 million
- Number of loans: 7
#5. Natchitoches Parish
- SBA approved about $125.50 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $4.8 million
- Number of loans: 5
#4. St. Martin Parish
- SBA approved about $132.60 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $6.9 million
- Number of loans: 8
#3. Lincoln Parish
- SBA approved about $156.15 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $7.6 million
- Number of loans: 2
#2. Red River Parish
- SBA approved about $343.52 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.7 million
- Number of loans: 3
#1. Claiborne Parish
- SBA approved about $412.00 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $6.0 million
- Number of loans: 5
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
