The U.S. Small Business Association backed nine loans totaling $3 million in October, the fewest loans since February. The Central Iowa loans included firms in Polk, Boone, Dallas, Madison, Warren, Marion, Jasper and Marshall counties. The companies pledged to create 59 jobs and retain 87. Among the loans SBA backed was $150,000 for Hello Marjorie, the bar under construction at the former headquarters of The Des Moines Register, 715 Locust, now home to the developing R&T Lofts. Other notable loans were $1.6 million for construction company Rognes Corp. of Ankeny; $500,00 for Comercializador Del Midwest LLC of Clive, a grocery wholesaler; and $150,000 for SCI Holdings Inc. of West Des Moines. Statewide, the SBA backed 38 loans in Iowa for $11.1 million. Those companies pledged to create 167 new jobs and retain 209 more.