99 -- SBA (SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION) MODIFIES

The U.S. Small Business Administration has amended its Small Business Size Regulations to clarify affiliation rules and the definition of a business concern, particularly impacting small agricultural cooperatives. The revisions, published as an Interim Final Rule on August 30, 2005, specify that member shareholders of small agricultural cooperatives are no longer considered affiliated simply due to their membership, and that these cooperatives themselves are now recognized as small business concerns. These changes directly affect the SBA's HUBZone Program and became effective immediately after publication. These regulatory adjustments aim to more accurately reflect the structures of agricultural cooperatives within the small business framework, potentially expanding their eligibility for certain SBA programs. Those interested in the full details are encouraged to review the revised regulations under 13 CFR §121.103 and §121.105 on the SBA website. The contract reference relates to this policy change, categorized under NAICS code 926110, with Carl G Jordan serving as the program analyst contact for further inquiries.