When will the SBA stop being irrelevant?

Underwhelming: That would be one way to describe small business owners’ reaction to the Small Business Administration.

The SBA has been stepping up loans and outreach recently, everything from making available bridge loans of $35,000 to launching a new Web 2.0-style site for SCORE. But it still doesn’t exactly have the confidence of most small business owners, at least according to a new survey from the National Federation of Independent Business. The group asked respondents whether they had a favorable or unfavorable impression–or none– of the agency. More than half–56%–had either no impression or a very or somewhat unfavorable one.

But, here’s the number I really noticed. A really large percentage–42%– had no impression at all of the agency. Also, the majority, more than 80%, hadn’t had any dealings with the SBA.

That’s pathetic. Under President Bush, the SBA didn’t do a lot and, in fact, became largely irrelevant. But, that was then. As I said, the agency has started moving more aggressively under the Obama administration (thank goodness), but clearly it hasn’t done enough.

How can this be? The ability for small businesses to grow is essential to boosting the economy–a numero uno priority. For the SBA, that means offering more, new types of loans and other financing, and consulting/advisory services. The agency is too important a resource not to be going at full throttle.