A good rule of thumb in shutdowns applies: if the government writes checks, it’s closed; if the government cashes checks, it’s open. The Small Business Administration (#SBA) furloughed about a quarter of its staff. Approvals for new 7(a) and 504 loans—its bread-and-butter programs—are suspended. That means small businesses can’t get government-backed financing to buy property, purchase equipment, or expand operations.⁣ ⁣ Continue reading at the link in our bio.