This story originally appeared on Flippa and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Counties receiving the most SBA loans in Wisconsin
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 county in Wisconsin 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 county ranks among those receiving the most SBA loans.
#50. Florence County
- SBA approved about $28.95 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $131,500
- Number of loans: 1
#49. Sawyer County
- SBA approved about $29.75 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $530,000
- Number of loans: 2
#48. Winnebago County
- SBA approved about $35.72 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $6.1 million
- Number of loans: 19
#47. Bayfield County
- SBA approved about $36.29 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $581,700
- Number of loans: 2
#46. Chippewa County
- SBA approved about $40.92 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.7 million
- Number of loans: 12
#45. Dunn County
- SBA approved about $41.47 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $1.9 million
- Number of loans: 4
#44. Waupaca County
- SBA approved about $44.67 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.3 million
- Number of loans: 5
#43. Door County
- SBA approved about $46.03 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $1.4 million
- Number of loans: 8
#42. La Crosse County
- SBA approved about $47.00 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $5.7 million
- Number of loans: 24
#41. Buffalo County
- SBA approved about $49.98 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $665,500
- Number of loans: 3
#40. Waushara County
- SBA approved about $51.17 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $1.3 million
- Number of loans: 3
#39. Grant County
- SBA approved about $53.29 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.8 million
- Number of loans: 4
#38. Marathon County
- SBA approved about $53.34 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $7.3 million
- Number of loans: 17
#37. Ashland County
- SBA approved about $56.06 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $897,000
- Number of loans: 4
#36. Marinette County
- SBA approved about $56.50 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.4 million
- Number of loans: 4
#35. Milwaukee County
- SBA approved about $60.41 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $56.7 million
- Number of loans: 141
#34. Calumet County
- SBA approved about $61.16 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $3.2 million
- Number of loans: 3
#33. Rock County
- SBA approved about $61.63 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $10.1 million
- Number of loans: 11
#32. Racine County
- SBA approved about $64.73 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $12.8 million
- Number of loans: 42
#31. Douglas County
- SBA approved about $67.89 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $3.0 million
- Number of loans: 5
#30. Washington County
- SBA approved about $69.38 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $9.5 million
- Number of loans: 17
#29. Walworth County
- SBA approved about $71.32 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $7.6 million
- Number of loans: 18
#28. Pepin County
- SBA approved about $75.05 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $550,000
- Number of loans: 1
#27. Vernon County
- SBA approved about $75.90 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.3 million
- Number of loans: 4
#26. Kenosha County
- SBA approved about $78.00 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $13.2 million
- Number of loans: 26
#25. Dane County
- SBA approved about $79.06 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $43.9 million
- Number of loans: 76
#24. Burnett County
- SBA approved about $86.27 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $1.4 million
- Number of loans: 3
#23. Columbia County
- SBA approved about $86.43 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $5.0 million
- Number of loans: 6
#22. Brown County
- SBA approved about $88.18 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $23.6 million
- Number of loans: 63
#21. Polk County
- SBA approved about $89.69 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $4.0 million
- Number of loans: 12
#20. Outagamie County
- SBA approved about $98.51 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $18.7 million
- Number of loans: 39
#19. Sheboygan County
- SBA approved about $99.62 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $11.7 million
- Number of loans: 33
#18. Manitowoc County
- SBA approved about $100.65 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $8.2 million
- Number of loans: 15
#17. Oconto County
- SBA approved about $106.86 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $4.1 million
- Number of loans: 8
#16. Fond du Lac County
- SBA approved about $108.62 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $11.3 million
- Number of loans: 17
#15. Trempealeau County
- SBA approved about $113.61 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $3.5 million
- Number of loans: 6
#14. Pierce County
- SBA approved about $123.10 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $5.2 million
- Number of loans: 10
#13. Eau Claire County
- SBA approved about $127.78 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $13.4 million
- Number of loans: 23
#12. Oneida County
- SBA approved about $134.78 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $5.0 million
- Number of loans: 7
#11. Barron County
- SBA approved about $137.59 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $6.4 million
- Number of loans: 16
#10. St. Croix County
- SBA approved about $145.25 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $13.4 million
- Number of loans: 24
#9. Adams County
- SBA approved about $163.41 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $3.4 million
- Number of loans: 5
#8. Waukesha County
- SBA approved about $185.72 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $75.3 million
- Number of loans: 110
#7. Jackson County
- SBA approved about $213.22 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $4.5 million
- Number of loans: 1
#6. Marquette County
- SBA approved about $217.04 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $3.4 million
- Number of loans: 5
#5. Price County
- SBA approved about $253.75 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $3.6 million
- Number of loans: 6
#4. Ozaukee County
- SBA approved about $275.55 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $25.1 million
- Number of loans: 33
#3. Rusk County
- SBA approved about $297.94 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $4.2 million
- Number of loans: 5
#2. Iron County
- SBA approved about $470.20 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.9 million
- Number of loans: 3
#1. Vilas County
- SBA approved about $597.00 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $13.6 million
- Number of loans: 8
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
