A 2025 Economic Assessment prepared by Summit LLC reveals that the B&I program is more than just a source of financing—it's a catalyst for job creation, business expansion, tax revenue growth, and rural revitalization.
We’re proud to play a role in bringing this kind of financing to communities in Oklahoma and throughout the United States. Over the next several weeks, we’ll break down how this program works, where it’s making the biggest difference, and why it’s one of the smartest investments the federal government is making in rural America today.
This summer, First National Bank of Oklahoma and Guaranteed Lending Specialists are teaming up to bring a special blog series to life that explores one of the most impactful—but often under-the-radar—economic development tools available to rural businesses: the USDA Business & Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program .
What to Expect in This Blog Series
Starting next week, we’ll dive deeper into the USDA B&I Loan Program’s impact across five parts:
Part 1:
How the USDA B&I Program Created 750,000 Jobs in
Rural America
How a decade of strategic investment created real,
lasting employment in rural counties nationwide.
Part 2:
Small Investments, Big Returns: How USDA B&I Loans
Boost State Tax Revenue
Why state governments are winning big—with sales tax
revenue rising alongside rural investment.
Part 3: Mapping Success: Why Oklahoma
Is a Top 5 State for USDA B&I Lending
What sets Oklahoma apart—and how First National Bank
of Oklahoma is helping lead the charge.
Part 4:
From Vision to Reality: 4 Rural Businesses Transformed
by USDA B&I Loans
Real-world stories from across the U.S. showing how
rural companies used B&I loans to scale.
Part 5:
Leveling the Field: How USDA B&I Loans Are Fueling
Growth in Opportunity Zones
The role of B&I loans in driving equity and
long-term revitalization in underserved communities.
According to the USDA B&I Guaranteed Loan Program: 2025 Economic Assessment, the program has had a powerful decade of performance:
These numbers tell a compelling story: the B&I program is efficient, targeted, and deeply impactful in rural communities.
Most government programs cost taxpayers money. But the B&I loan program is structured differently. It doesn’t give out grants—it guarantees loans made by private lenders, reducing the risk and making capital more accessible for rural businesses.
That means:
In fact, the 2025 analysis found that the government paid just $331 million in total for the 750,000 jobs created from 2012 to 2022—making this one of the most cost-effective jobs programs in U.S. history. That’s $441 per job created…
Oklahoma ranks #5 nationwide in total USDA B&I loan activity from 2015 to 2024, with over $665 million in loan guarantees supporting more than 130 rural projects. These investments have reached into manufacturing, healthcare, food processing, and energy—helping businesses grow and communities thrive.
As a USDA-approved lender, First National Bank of Oklahoma has seen firsthand how these loans make a difference: