SBA’s flagship 8(a) program added 7% more participants in 7 months

OIG report covers major improvements, challenges for 8(a)

     In its final months, the Obama Administration made a huge push to increase the number of small businesses certified as participants in the Small Business Administration’s flagship “8(a)” program.

      That effort paid off successfully with an estimated 7% increase in the number of participants in the 8(a) Business Development Program between August 2016 and March 2017, according to a new report from the SBA’s Office of Inspector General.

      The number of 8(a) companies rose from about 4,900 in August 2016 to 5,270 in March 2017, the OIG report said.

      The increase is the result of an “aggressive growth plan” ...more....