On November 7, SBA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register seeking to lift the moratorium on licensing new small business lending companies (SBLCs) and adding a new type of entity called a “Mission-Based SBLC.” The moratorium was imposed in 1982, after the agency lacked adequate resources to effectively service and supervise additional SBLCs participating in SBA’s 7(a) loan program beyond the 14 it was authorized to approve. According to SBA, while the majority of 7(a) lenders are federally-regulated depository institutions, “SBLCs are regulated, supervised, and examined solely by SBA” and “are subject to specific regulations regarding formation, capitalization, and enforcement actions.” SBA explained that there are capital market gaps in certain markets that “continue to struggle to obtain financing on non-predatory terms.” The proposed rule seeks to lift the licensing moratorium and further create the Mission-Based SBLC to help bridge the financing gap. Mission-Based SBLCs will be nonprofit entities that will help SBA meet the needs of underserved communities and increase opportunities for access to capital in precisely targeted capital market gaps. Comments on the proposed rule are due January 6, 2023.