The U.S. Small Business Administration backed loans to 10 Central Iowa businesses in December totaling more than $6.97 million.

For the full 2021 calendar year, the SBA backed 142 loans to Central Iowa businesses that totaled $71,905,200, according to data released by the SBA and compiled for Central Iowa companies by the Business Record.

That year-end figure closely aligns with the loan activity from two years ago, with 2019 figures of 146 loans totaling $71.7 million. By comparison, in 2020, SBA-backed loans in Central Iowa topped $89 million, representing a 24% year-over-year increase from 2019.

December’s 10 loans are expected to enable the creation of 21 new jobs and retention of 32 jobs in Central Iowa.

The largest loans by dollar amount in December for Central Iowa were:

• Grand Prix Printing LLC, a new commercial printing company in Ankeny, $2,520,400.
• Purlin Corp., a new West Des Moines industrial machinery and equipment wholesaler, $2,050,000.
• Central Prairie Radon LLC,  a new testing laboratory business in Polk City, $768,000.

Statewide, the SBA backed 37 loans for $18.3 million to Iowa businesses from participating lenders using its two largest lending programs. The SBA 7(a) and 504 programs capitalized 22 new and 15 existing businesses that report creating 142 new jobsand retaining 271 jobsas a result.

See the complete listing of Central Iowa SBA loans (Insider)