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Small business loans up during past three months

Nebraska's unemployment rate edged up slightly in June, but small business growth continues to be strong, according to the Small Business Administration.

The SBA says 99 loans worth more than $33 million were approved for Nebraska small businesses over the past three months. SBA Nebraska spokesman Michael Foutch says 45 percent of the loans went to new entrepreneurs.

"People who want to start up from the ground up. People who want to buy an existing business and take it over, new entrepreneurs, these people are getting loans and 45 percent of our loan volume is going to these new business owners. And that’s remarkable considering across the country, it’s usually 33 to 40 percent."

Foutch says Nebraska has a supportive small business climate, and diversity in its small businesses.

Last week, CNBC named Nebraska as number four in their Top States for Business.