An SBA proposal to revise the size of small businesses inseveral sectors, including finance and insurance, could potentiallyallow 12,900 firms to be eligible for the agency's loanprograms.

The SBA said it has proposed increasing 32 revenue-based sizestandards and give asset-based size standards in the finance andinsurance sector.

More than 2,000 additional financialinstitutions would qualify as small if the revised asset-basedsize standards are adopted, the agency said. This includes 25minority-owned financial institutions that could become eligible toparticipate in subcontracting agreements with prime contractors forsubcontracting goals and credits.

In addition, the agency is also seeking to increase two sizestandards in the management of companies and enterprises sector aswell as how it measures the size of international trade financingfirms from average assets to average revenues.

The SBA estimated that more than 5,400 additional firms in theselast two sectors will become eligible for its loans and federalprocurement programs under the revised revenue-based sizestandards, if adopted.

Increasing 11 size standards in the agriculture, forestry,fishing and hunting sector has also been proposed. If adopted, upto 7,500 more firms in this sector would also be eligible for theSBA's programs.

Comments can be submitted on these proposed rules on or beforeNov. 13 at www.regulations.gov.