It's been a really tough road for entrepreneurs and small businesses over the last year or two. The availability of money for operation dried up with lenders like Advanta and CIT shutting down or struggling to survive themselves.

If you're a larger company in need of funding, you can simply go out and issue corporate bonds. Problem solved. But what do you do if you're a smaller business?

There's a new federal initiative through the Small Business Administration that may ride to the rescue. The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship reports the following expansions are being considered:

• An increase in the maximum 7(a) loan to $5 million (up from a maximum of $2 million)
• An increase in the maximum 504 loan to $5.5 million (up from a maximum of $1.5 million)
• An increase in the maximum micro-loan to $50,000 (up from a maximum of $35,000)

Small business and entrepreneurs play a key role in creating economic growth. That's why this issue is so critically important.

Meanwhile, the public loves an underdog. A Vermont micro-brewer who marketed a beer called Vermonster received cease-and-desist letters from Monster Energy Drinks. After much public outcry, Monster backed down and allowed the micro-brewer to continue making and selling Vermonster. Score one for small business!