The U.S. Small Business Administration recently released its fiscal year-end results for small business loans across Montana.

Businesses and financial institutions in Lewis and Clark County took full advantage of the program. The 50 loans approved in Lewis and Clark County were second only to the 86 approved loans in Yellowstone County. Lewis and Clark outpaced several counties that have larger populations, including Gallatin (48 loans) and Missoula (32).

On the financing side, Glacier Bancorp., parent of Valley Bank of Helena, led all holding companies with 75 loan approvals.

Among individual banks, Valley Bank of Helena was second in the state with 33 loans approved, behind only Yellowstone Bank of Billings (34)

Restaurants, specialty trade contractors, landscaping services, child day care services, electrical contractors and hotels/motels were among the most frequently financed businesses.

All told, SBA guaranteed 362 loans totaling $82.3 million across Montana. Of that total, 324 loans for $60.4 million were for short- or long-term start-up or expansion needs, with the remainder going for large equipment and building loans through the SBA’s 504 program.

Eighty-one loans went to women-owned businesses, and 48 loans were made to veterans.

Biz Tips: In other SBA news, the agency recently launched a new business hotline for small businesses in the Helena area. The agency launched the hotline to give business owners somewhere to call with questions of any kind about their enterprises.

Business owners can call 441-1095 and expect to have their call returned within an hour by an expert from one of the state’s small business development centers or from a SCORE small business counselor.

E-mail your Open for Business ideas to

john.harrington@helenair.com.