Fueling Main Street through Small Business Lending Access
By Roland Shelton, Old National Chief Strategic Business Partnerships Officer
Small businesses play a vital role in driving local economic momentum, strengthening neighborhoods, and creating opportunities for individuals and families. This impact extends well beyond day-to-day transactions — it reflects a deeper commitment to fostering long-term, sustainable growth.
Main Street thrives not just because businesses exist, but because entrepreneurs have the support they need to succeed. When business owners can build stability, hire locally, and reinvest in their communities, they help shape stronger, more resilient local economies.
How access to capital fuels growth
Access to capital often determines whether a business idea can move from concept to reality or whether an existing business can take its next step forward. Small Business Administration (SBA) lending plays a key role in that progression, supporting needs such as real estate purchases, expansion capital, and day-to-day working capital.
Old National Bank ranked among the leading SBA 7(a) lenders in 2025, reflecting its focus on meeting those needs. For small business owners, access to this kind of financing can be pivotal, strengthening their foundation, enabling hiring, supporting expansion, and creating the confidence to invest in long-term growth.
How the Empowerment Small Business Loan Program expands access
Expanding opportunity means recognizing that not every entrepreneur fits a traditional lending model. Old National’s Empowerment Small Business Loan Program is designed to broaden access to capital for small businesses, with revenue less than $25 million that operate within a low-to-moderate income or rural community. By offering more flexible lending solutions, the program moves beyond standard underwriting to better reflect real-world business potential.
At its core, the program is about helping entrepreneurs build stability and grow with confidence. It provides financing aligned to the way small businesses operate, strengthening foundations and creating a path forward when conventional options may fall short.
In 2025 alone, the program delivered nearly $14 million in lending to 50 clients, and since its launch has provided more than $70 million in lending across 209 businesses. These results reflect more than lending volume — they represent a focused effort to equip business owners with the resources needed to grow, hire, and invest in the communities they serve.
What small business growth looks like in the community
The impact becomes clearer through the businesses themselves.
In Evansville, Ind., Back Nine used SBA 7(a) financing to launch a new entertainment concept, create jobs, and add energy to the local community. In Minneapolis, Minn., Mestizo Restaurant opened through the Empowerment Loan Program, creating 31 jobs and becoming a cultural and community hub. In Morris, Ill., Roots Hair Studio used similar financing to stabilize operations, preserve jobs, and focus on long-term growth.
Together, these examples illustrate what access to capital makes possible. When small businesses receive the right support at the right time, the benefits extend beyond a single business, strengthening local economies and contributing to the long-term vitality of main street.
Connect with an Old National Small Business banker for more insights to help your business grow.
