State News

Perdue worried about lack of small business loans

Gov. Beverly Perdue wants the federal government to ease tight credit markets making it hard for small banks to lend money to growing businesses.

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Gov. Beverly Perdue
RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Beverly Perdue said Monday that she wants the federal government to ease tight credit markets making it hard for small banks to lend money to growing businesses.

Perdue said she planned to meet with the head of the Small Business Administration before her trip to Washington for the National Governors Association ends. Perdue has been in the nation's capital since Saturday.

She told reporters in a phone call that community banks in the state tell her they're over-regulated by Washington and hesitant to lend. The governor would like the Obama administration to create a small loan pool.

Perdue also said she told Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood her disappointment about only receiving $10 million in federal stimulus grants to replace the aging Yadkin River bridge along Interstate 85.

Some East Coast states are thinking about forming an energy coalition to study exploring and possibly developing wind, natural gas and oil resources in the Atlantic Ocean, she said.

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