How the shutdown is affecting small business loans in Maine

Small business in Maine are among the least affected by the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, which is in its 25th day, according to a new report.Maine, along with Vermont, was one of the states least affected by the hold on processing Small Business Administration loans, according to a study by ValuePenguin.com, a LendingTree company. That includes SBA 7(a) loans, which are a key source of funding for small businesses across the country.With no SBA loans being processed, the backlog of companies waiting for SBA funding is growing and could take months to clear in the aftermath of the shutdown, according to the report. That could hurt small businesses for longer than expected.Small businesses most affected by the shutdown are in California, Texas and New York.