Counties receiving the most small business loans in Ohio

The Small Business Administration backed loans worth $27.5 billion through its primary lending program in 2023—rising well above pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels as government officials aim to stabilize the economy.

Many small businesses get their start and scale up with SBA loans, which increased lending to Black, Latino, and women entrepreneurs in the past few years in step with efforts to become more equitable.

Flippa found the county in Ohio where applicants were approved for the most SBA loan funds per capita in fiscal year 2023, which ended in September. The analysis was based on the SBA's most common loan program, known as 7(a) loans. SBA's 7(a) program provides extra security to lenders when they loan money to small businesses that might otherwise be considered too risky to grant. Loans can be for up to $5 million, but in 2023, nearly 7 in 10 loans were for amounts of $350,000 or less. Small businesses can use these funds for real estate acquisitions or improvements, working capital, supplies and equipment, and for other business startup or acquisition purposes.

Barriers do still exist for eligibility, including income, credit history, and location, but SBA loans can be fruitful for founders who don't qualify for conventional business financing. They can also provide protection against high and volatile interest rates, as SBA-backed loans have maximum interest rates that are predictable and often lower than other loans.

In a national analysis of the #1 ranked counties in every state, all but two counties had populations of less than 500,000—most smaller than 100,000. That's not surprising, as the Census Bureau classifies about 99% of U.S. counties as small. Still, it signifies that these smaller communities are building successful entrepreneurial environments. In most cases, their small businesses are able to succeed beyond those within the major U.S. population centers—at least in terms of success in gaining SBA funding.

Read on to see whether your county ranks among those receiving the most SBA loans.

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#50. Lucas County

- SBA approved about $44.39 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $19.1 million
- Number of loans: 103

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#49. Scioto County

- SBA approved about $46.95 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $3.5 million
- Number of loans: 6

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#48. Muskingum County

- SBA approved about $49.84 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $4.3 million
- Number of loans: 41

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#47. Preble County

- SBA approved about $51.43 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.1 million
- Number of loans: 4

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#46. Noble County

- SBA approved about $51.88 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $735,000
- Number of loans: 1

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#45. Allen County

- SBA approved about $53.77 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $5.5 million
- Number of loans: 12

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#44. Clinton County

- SBA approved about $55.05 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.3 million
- Number of loans: 7

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#43. Erie County

- SBA approved about $57.43 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $4.3 million
- Number of loans: 24

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#42. Guernsey County

- SBA approved about $57.43 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.2 million
- Number of loans: 14

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#41. Tuscarawas County

- SBA approved about $58.26 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $5.4 million
- Number of loans: 33

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#40. Miami County

- SBA approved about $61.46 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $6.6 million
- Number of loans: 30

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#39. Huron County

- SBA approved about $63.21 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $3.7 million
- Number of loans: 13

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#38. Union County

- SBA approved about $64.35 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $4.0 million
- Number of loans: 14

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#37. Seneca County

- SBA approved about $64.85 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $3.6 million
- Number of loans: 13

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#36. Ashtabula County

- SBA approved about $70.19 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $6.9 million
- Number of loans: 37

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#35. Hancock County

- SBA approved about $71.42 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $5.4 million
- Number of loans: 23

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#34. Brown County

- SBA approved about $77.43 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $3.4 million
- Number of loans: 2

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#33. Lorain County

- SBA approved about $79.70 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $24.8 million
- Number of loans: 121

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#32. Portage County

- SBA approved about $81.74 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $13.2 million
- Number of loans: 52

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#31. Pickaway County

- SBA approved about $82.38 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $4.8 million
- Number of loans: 19

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#30. Trumbull County

- SBA approved about $82.57 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $16.7 million
- Number of loans: 73

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#29. Holmes County

- SBA approved about $83.96 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $3.7 million
- Number of loans: 8

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#28. Lawrence County

- SBA approved about $84.12 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $4.9 million
- Number of loans: 3

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#27. Butler County

- SBA approved about $85.04 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $33.0 million
- Number of loans: 109

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#26. Columbiana County

- SBA approved about $86.25 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $8.8 million
- Number of loans: 38

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#25. Carroll County

- SBA approved about $92.37 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.5 million
- Number of loans: 12

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#24. Fayette County

- SBA approved about $93.78 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.7 million
- Number of loans: 3

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#23. Franklin County

- SBA approved about $94.61 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $124.3 million
- Number of loans: 510

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#22. Lake County

- SBA approved about $99.01 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $23.0 million
- Number of loans: 87

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#21. Wood County

- SBA approved about $99.96 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $13.2 million
- Number of loans: 50

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#20. Hamilton County

- SBA approved about $100.03 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $82.7 million
- Number of loans: 273

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#19. Medina County

- SBA approved about $100.24 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $18.2 million
- Number of loans: 81

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#18. Cuyahoga County

- SBA approved about $100.97 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $127.6 million
- Number of loans: 447

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#17. Summit County

- SBA approved about $104.11 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $56.3 million
- Number of loans: 242

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#16. Licking County

- SBA approved about $105.52 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $18.7 million
- Number of loans: 78

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#15. Stark County

- SBA approved about $107.93 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $40.4 million
- Number of loans: 169

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#14. Montgomery County

- SBA approved about $111.20 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $59.6 million
- Number of loans: 112

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#13. Wyandot County

- SBA approved about $113.71 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $2.5 million
- Number of loans: 2

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#12. Warren County

- SBA approved about $114.52 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $27.4 million
- Number of loans: 73

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#11. Madison County

- SBA approved about $120.33 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $5.3 million
- Number of loans: 31

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#10. Henry County

- SBA approved about $122.38 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $3.4 million
- Number of loans: 6

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#9. Richland County

- SBA approved about $124.57 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $15.5 million
- Number of loans: 38

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#8. Clermont County

- SBA approved about $126.57 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $26.3 million
- Number of loans: 56

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#7. Mahoning County

- SBA approved about $131.36 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $30.1 million
- Number of loans: 91

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#6. Belmont County

- SBA approved about $140.31 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $9.4 million
- Number of loans: 28

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#5. Fairfield County

- SBA approved about $166.49 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $26.2 million
- Number of loans: 45

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#4. Geauga County

- SBA approved about $168.34 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $16.1 million
- Number of loans: 50

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#3. Defiance County

- SBA approved about $174.88 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $6.7 million
- Number of loans: 23

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#2. Delaware County

- SBA approved about $177.24 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $37.4 million
- Number of loans: 109

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#1. Putnam County

- SBA approved about $214.00 per resident in 7(a) loans in 2023.
- Total approved funds: $7.4 million
- Number of loans: 10

This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.