OTHER NEWS - Sept. 25, 1996

Ex-Im Bank Launches Small-Business Loan Program: The U.S. Export-Import Bank began a pilot program that gives states the authority to grant short-term loan guarantees for small and medium-sized exporters. Florida has already been approved for the program, and California, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts and Minnesota are expected to sign on before Jan. 1. The program is an effort by the Washington-based Ex-Im Bank to attract more small and medium-sized businesses to its export financing programs. Loan programs will range in size from $500,000 to $2.2 million, with the Ex-Im Bank financing up to 45% of the total. The Ex-Im Bank has long been working with state and local agencies to help market its export financing products, but this is the first program to give states direct authority to approve Ex-Im Bank loans.