Shaheen helps get credit for small businesses

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Auto dealers and other small businesses will have an easier time obtaining credit thanks in part to the efforts of New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

Shaheen has been urging the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Obama administration to make credit available to more small businesses. On Friday, the SBA announced it will expand a loan program to make an additional 70,000 small businesses eligible.

Shaheen's efforts included meeting with President Obama, raising the issue at the SBA Administrator Karen Mills' confirmation hearing and sending a letter signed by 32 senators to the president urging him to make changes to SBA regulations.