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County35th of 83 in Michigan by approvalsFIPS 26035
SBA loans in Clare County, Michigan
7(a) and 504 approvals to businesses located in the county, set against the number of businesses there and against the state.
SBA approvals by fiscal year. The federal fiscal year runs 1 October to 30 September, so FY2025 is 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025. *FY2026 is open: approvals to 30 Jun 2026 only.
SBA approved 48 loans to businesses in Clare County, Michigan, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $11.2M: 44 under 7(a) and 4 under 504.
That is 79.1 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (607 establishments in 2023), above the Michigan figure of 55.8 and above the national 41.0.
It ranks 35th of 83 Michigan counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 7, down 56% on FY2024.
7 lenders had approvals here; the most active were The Huntington National Bank (35), Horizon Bank (5) and Michigan Certified Development Corporation (4). The most common industry was agencies, brokerages, and other insurance related activities.
Loan status is as recorded by SBA at the data date; charge-off rates are computed on loans approved at least five fiscal years ago. Jobs supported are self-reported estimates from the SBA loan application, which SBA does not review, audit or validate. Data through 30 Jun 2026.
Lenders most active in Clare County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 7 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 35 | $5.0M | 72.9% | |
| 2 | Horizon BankMichigan City, IN | 5 | $3.0M | 10.4% | |
| 3 | Michigan Certified Development CorporationEast Lansing, MI · CDC | 4 | $1.7M | 8.3% | |
| 4 | Bank Five NineOconomowoc, WI | 1 | — | 2.1% | |
| 5 | Harvest Small Business Finance, LLCLaguna Hills, CA | 1 | — | 2.1% | |
| 6 | Nicolet National BankGreen Bay, WI | 1 | — | 2.1% | |
| 7 | Mercantile BankGrand Rapids, MI | 1 | — | 2.1% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related ActivitiesNAICS 5242 | 4 | 8.3% | |
| 2 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 3 | 6.3% | |
| 3 | Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the ElderlyNAICS 6233 | 2 | 4.2% | |
| 4 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 2 | 4.2% | |
| 5 | Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant WholesalersNAICS 4231 | 2 | 4.2% | |
| 6 | Lessors of Real EstateNAICS 5311 | 2 | 4.2% | |
| 7 | Automotive Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8111 | 2 | 4.2% | |
| 8 | RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational CampsNAICS 7212 | 2 | 4.2% | |
| 9 | Plastics Product ManufacturingNAICS 3261 | 2 | 4.2% | |
| 10 | Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior ContractorsNAICS 2381 | 2 | 4.2% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail Trade | 8 | 16.7% | |
| 2 | Construction | 7 | 14.6% | |
| 3 | Accommodation and Food Services | 6 | 12.5% | |
| 4 | Manufacturing | 5 | 10.4% | |
| 5 | Finance and Insurance | 4 | 8.3% | |
| 6 | Wholesale Trade | 4 | 8.3% | |
| 7 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 4 | 8.3% | |
| 8 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 3 | 6.3% |
Approvals by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) approvals | 7(a) dollars | Median 7(a) | 504 approvals | 504 dollars | All approvals | Jobs supported, as reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026* | 1 | — | — | 0 | — | 1 | 0 |
| FY2025 | 7 | $2.2M | $50K | 0 | — | 7 | 37 |
| FY2024 | 16 | $2.4M | $53K | 0 | — | 16 | 41 |
| FY2023 | 11 | $1.4M | $58K | 1 | — | 12 | 86 |
| FY2022 | 6 | $1.9M | $83K | 2 | — | 8 | 36 |
| FY2021 | 4 | $1.6M | $389K | 1 | — | 5 | 67 |
| FY2020 | 1 | — | — | 0 | — | 1 | 2 |
| FY2019 | 1 | — | — | 0 | — | 1 | 0 |
| FY2018 | 1 | — | — | 0 | — | 1 | 1 |
| FY2017 | 1 | — | — | 0 | — | 1 | 1 |
| FY2016 | 1 | — | — | 0 | — | 1 | 20 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 5 approvals.
Against Michigan and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Clare County | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 48 | 12,809 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 79.1 | 55.8 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $59K | $125K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | $228K | $540K | $657K |
| Average approval | $233K | $415K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 8.3% | 6.7% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 5.6 | 9.4 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 0.4% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less41.7%20
- $50,001 to $150,00022.9%11
- $150,001 to $350,00018.8%9
- $350,001 to $1 million12.5%6
- $1 million to $2 million4.2%2
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old52.1%25
- New business, 2 years or less14.6%7
- Startup, loan funds will open the business22.9%11
- Change of ownership8.3%4
- Not answered2.1%1
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Clare County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: The Huntington National Bank (35), Horizon Bank (5), Michigan Certified Development Corporation (4), Bank Five Nine (1), Harvest Small Business Finance, LLC (1). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Clare County?
The median 7(a) approval was $59K and the median 504 approval $228K; the Michigan 7(a) median was $125K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Clare County?
Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (4); Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (3); Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (2); Restaurants and Other Eating Places (2); Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (2).
Is SBA lending in Clare County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 35, against 14 in the three before: rising (+150%).
How does Clare County compare with the rest of Michigan?
79.1 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 55.8 statewide, and 48 of the state's 12,809 approvals.
About these figures
Figures are totals of the Small Business Administration's 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan files, data through 30 Jun 2026. SBA updates the files quarterly. Counts are loan approvals, including approvals later cancelled; the five-year window is FY2021–FY2025, the five latest complete fiscal years. Charge-off rates use only loans approved in FY2010–FY2021, at least five fiscal years ago, and count disbursed loans SBA records as charged off. Loans are listed under the lender they are assigned to today. Establishment counts are from the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns 2023, which leaves out most farms, government and businesses without employees. Dollar figures behind fewer than three approvals are not shown, and no borrower is named anywhere on this site.Methodology · Report an error