Obama called for a program of loans for small businesses made through either the federal Small Business Administration's Disaster Loan Program or by private lenders.

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The U.S. Small Business Administration says small businesses generate about half of non-farm private GDP.

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They are the private sector working with us, with the administration, with labor, with the business community.

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The venture capital firms that receive matching SBA-guaranteed loans will reap 2% management fees each year on the total fund of both private investment and government-backed debt, according to Sean Greene, the associate administrator for investment at the Small Business Administration.

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