The
Small Business Administration (SBA) recently released a
list of 100 businesses that have created at least 100 jobs since receiving SBA assistance, and three Minnesota companies were highlighted.
Great Clips,
Shield Services, and
Tastefully Simple--all based in Minnesota--made the list, showing growth since their SBA aid.
Great Clips received a $9 million SBA loan in 1997 and used the money to grow from 800 salons to over 3,000 franchised locations, creating 15,000 jobs along the way.
Security firm Shield Services benefited from the agency's business development program and an SBA-assisted contract, and now employs 130 people.
Tastefully Simple, a food-mix and gift purveyor launched in 1995, used a $20,000 SBA loan to grow into a $100 million company with 340 employees.