《科尔曼报告》专访荣获

“2017 SBA 504年度贷款商奖”的

ALC首席执行官John Shen

Coleman: Congratulations on being named Coleman SBA 504 Lender of the Year!

“I am flattered and honored. I know this award is one of the highest honors for the most accomplished leaders in the industry, and with so many companies playing significant roles in the business this past year it’s an honor to be recognized. Think about how many banks and non-bank lenders have been involved in the SBA 504 Loan program this past year – hundreds of them. It is just amazing. I really value Coleman’s acknowledgment of the superb track record of my company American Lending Center.

“American Lending Center is the only established SBA 504 first loan lender in the country that almost exclusively utilizes the EB-5 program to raise lending capital. Because of the requirements of the program, American Lending Center is thus more accountable, transparent, and makes stronger efforts to track and document job creation than other SBA 504 lenders. This is the biggest difference.”

Coleman: What would you think might be the most significant challenge for an SBA 504 Third Party Lender?

“Communication and synchronization with the Certified Development Company (CDC) and any other lenders involved. Every SBA 504 project that engages American Lending Center has at least two, often three, private lenders also working with the CDC. The processing and review of an SBA 504 loan application can be significantly more complicated than those of a typical commercial loan where only one single lender is involved. In the SBA 504 Program, all the players must work as a team to put the pieces together.”

Coleman: Why does American Lending Center focus on hospitality new construction projects?

“Construction is one of the most reliable and verifiable sources of job creation in the EB-5 business, and thus one of the most adopted EB-5 project types due to the generally consistent cash flow in building and staffing of hotels.”

Coleman: I know American Lending Center has a nationwide lending program for SBA 504; what would be your geographical restrictions, if any?

When the EB-5 Program is the funding source, the project location must qualify as a “Targeted Employment Area,” or TEA, defined by its unemployment rate or designated as such by the state. Other than that, there aren’t restrictions or preferred areas. American Lending Center is committed to investment in deserving businesses anywhere, including those in rural and other underserved areas, and will not simply focus on investment in developments in major urban areas. So far, the company has completed funding projects in 16 states.”

Coleman: What do you think about the growing trend of foreign direct investment in US small business lending?

“Foreign direct investment can continue to grow in this industry and fund more small business projects here in the US. I think current SBA policies will stay as supportive, if not more so, under the Trump administration. American Lending Center alone has provided over $175 million to American projects, recruited fully from EB-5 investors. Less stringent regulations could certainly allow even more non-conventional lending operations to play a bigger role in small business lending.”

Coleman: What motivates you and your team in small business lending in general?

“In this industry, every day we hear great stories of small business owners. They are just like you and me, but their passion for their businesses and their burning desire to succeed, in my estimation, keeps the engine of our economy running by creating needed jobs across the country. As of April 2017, American Lending Center and our parent company Regional Centers Holding Group had successfully funded over 60 Small Business Administration 504 projects with EB-5 funds, stimulating economic growth and job creation all over the country. The more you help those owners, the happier you are. Nothing feels better than seeing your borrower succeed in his business. That is the motivation.

About American Lending Center

American Lending Center (ALC) is a U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service designated regional center held by Regional Centers Holding Group. ALC offers investment opportunities to immigrant investors who are interested in obtaining permanent resident status in the United States through the employment-based fifth preference visa (EB-5) program. ALC has completed funding projects in 16 states, and is committed to investment in deserving businesses anywhere, including those in rural and other underserved areas.

（新闻原稿）

科尔曼：恭喜您被授予科尔曼 SBA 504年度贷款商奖！

“我感到受宠若惊又非常的荣幸。我知道这个奖项是行业内最成功的领导者的最高荣誉之一，过去一年里有这么多的公司在这个行业发挥着重要的作用，这是一个值得肯定的荣誉。想到过去一年有多少家银行和非银行贷款机构参与了SBA504贷款项目- 其中有数百家。这真是太棒了。我真的很重视科尔曼对我公司美国借贷中心卓越业绩的肯定。

“美国借贷中心是全美国唯一一家几乎完全用EB-5来筹集贷款资金的SBA 504第一贷款银行。由于EB-5政策对项目有很高的要求，美国借贷中心因此比其他SBA 504贷款机构更加负责任，透明，并且更加努力地跟踪和记录就业创造。这是最大的区别。”

科尔曼：你认为对于SBA 504第三方贷款机构来说，最大的挑战是什么？

“与认证开发公司（CDC）和涉及的任何其他贷方进行沟通和同步。参与美国借贷中心的每个SBA 504项目都至少有两个，通常是三个私人贷款机构，也与CDC合作。 SBA504贷款申请的处理和审查可能比仅涉及一个单一贷方的典型商业贷款的处理和审查复杂得多。在SBA 504贷款中，所有机构必须团队合作。“

科尔曼：为什么美国借贷中心专注于酒店新的建设项目？

“酒店的建设开发阶段所创造的就业是EB-5商业中可创造最可靠和易核实的，也是EB-5项目中最受欢迎的项目之一，因为酒店建设和人员配置的现金流量基本保持一致。”

科尔曼：我知道美国借贷中心所操作的SBA 504贷款项目可以覆盖全国，你们的地理限制是什么？

当EB-5投资移民是资金来源时，项目所在地必须符合“目标就业区”（TEA），即由失业率来定义或由国家指定的TEA。除此之外，没有限制或优先领域。美国借贷中心致力于投资于任何地方的企业，包括农村和其他服务不足地区的企业，而不仅仅是投资主要城市地区的发展。到目前为止，该公司已经完成了16个州的资助项目。

科尔曼：您如何看待外国直接投资在美国小企业贷款的增长趋势？

“外国直接投资会在这个行业继续增长，并为美国更多的小型企业项目提供资金。我认为目前的SBA政策会继续支持外国直接投资，而且在特朗普政府的管理下，支持力度会更加的大。仅美国借贷中心就向美国各项目提供了超过1.75亿美元的项目，全部来自EB-5投资者。略微宽松的法规当然可以让更多非传统的贷款业务在小企业贷款中发挥更大的作用。

科尔曼：什么激励你和你的团队致力于中小企业贷款？