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<section article="gec" article_name="Economic Development" number="5-521" title_number="5" title_name="Economic Development and Financial Assistance Programs" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority">
  <level label="a">
    <text>If the applicant is an individual, to qualify for financial assistance under this part the applicant shall satisfy the Authority that:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the applicant is of good moral character;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the applicant has a reputation for financial responsibility, as determined from creditors, employers, and other individuals who have personal knowledge of the applicant;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>the applicant is a resident of the State or the principal place of business of the applicant is in the State; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>the applicant is unable to obtain adequate business financing on reasonable terms through normal lending channels because the applicant:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>belongs to a group that historically has been deprived of access to normal economic or financial resources;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>has a documented disability;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>has any other social or economic impediment that is beyond the control of the applicant but that does not limit the ability of the applicant to perform the contract or other activity for which the applicant would be receiving financial assistance, including:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the lack of formal education or financial capacity; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>geographical or regional economic distress; or</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>does not meet the established credit criteria of at least one financial institution.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>If the applicant is a business enterprise that is not a sole proprietorship, to qualify for financial assistance under this part at least 70% of the business enterprise shall be owned by individuals who meet the qualifications for an individual applicant under subsection (a) of this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>An applicant for a loan guaranty shall have applied for and been denied a loan by a financial institution.</text>
  </level>
</section>
