ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — Mercantile Capital Corporation, which ranks as one of the nation’s leading providers of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans for small business owners who want to acquire or develop their own facilities, recently appointed four new SBA 504 loan specialists. 

Christopher G. Hurn, CEO of Mercantile Capital Corporation, said he promoted Jon DeJulio from intern to marketing associate. 

Yelena Sulyagina was promoted from intern to credit analyst.  

Tammy Hennen was named operations administrator and Carolyn Skog was named credit analyst.  Both Hennen and Skog have more than 20 years of experience. 

For more information contact

Chris Hurn, CEO, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Geof Longstaff, Chairman, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

Chris Hurn, CEO of Mercantile Capital Corporation, the SBA 504 Loan specialist, recently hit Amazon.com’s Best-Seller List with his new book, “Big Idea’s For Your Business.” 

Orlando, Fla. – August 13, 2009 – In collaboration with America’s PremierExperts®, Chris Hurn, CEO of Inc. 500 company Mercantile Capital Corporation, recently released the book, Big Ideas For Your Business:  America’s PremierExperts® Show You How to Make Your Business More Fun & More Profitable. America’s PremierExperts® is a group of America’s leading experts in various fields of business.  They are celebrity experts who are dedicated to spreading knowledge and awareness in their field of expertise and making significant contributions to their industry and the marketplace as a whole.

Big Ideas For Your Business was released on July 23rd, 2009.  On the day of release, the book reached the best-seller list in two categories, the Management and Leadership – Systems and Planning category, and the Business Management category. 

Chris Hurn authored a chapter in the book titled, “Wealth Creation through Smarter Financing.”  Chris Hurn was chosen as one of America’s PremierExperts® for his expertise and success in the commercial real estate finance industry, specifically his specialty in lending SBA (Small Business Administration) 504 loans. Mercantile Capital Corporation focuses on providing SBA 504 loans for small business owners to acquire or enhance their own facilities.

To order your copy of Big Ideas For Your Business please visit http://www.amazon.com/Ideas-Your-Business-Nick-Nanton/dp/1599321076 

To find out more about Chris Hurn and Mercantile Capital Corporation, please visit http://www.TheSmartChoiceLoan.com

To find out more about America’s PremierExperts® visit http://www.AmericasPremierExperts.com

About Mercantile Capital Corporation:

Recently named to the Inc. 500 list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies, Mercantile Capital Corporation has been called the “Fastest Growing Commercial Lender in America,” the “most unique and entrepreneurial bankers around,” and the “fun bankers.” From its start in late 2002, MCC has focused on providing SBA 504 loans for small business owners to acquire or enhance their own facilities all over the country.

Additional information on MCC and its commercial loan offerings is available at http://www.TheSmartChoiceLoan.com

About America’s PremierExperts® LLC:America’s PremierExperts® is an organization dedicated to recognizing business experts in their field of expertise and offers business owners, entrepreneurs, professional speakers, authors, professionals and corporate CEOs exclusive opportunities for further exposure and growth in the marketplace. JW Dicks, Esq. and Nick Nanton, Esq., Media and Business development experts, founded America’s PremierExperts® to showcase entrepreneurs, CEOs, authors, professional speakers and businesspeople who are dedicated to spreading knowledge and awareness in their field and making significant contributions to their industry and the marketplace as a whole. For more information on becoming one of America’s PremierExperts® visit http://www.americaspremierexperts.com/become-an-expert

Altamonte Springs, Fla./August 7, 2009 – Mercantile Capital Corporation, which ranks as one of the nation’s leading providers of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans for small business owners who want to acquire or develop their own facilities, closed a commercial loan for Sun Pearl Bakery, Inc. recently for $344,000 in total project costs. 

Sun Pearl Bakery, Inc. operates Taiwan Foods, Inc. based in Orlando, Florida.  This ethnic bakery is one of few in the Orlando area that specializes in various Taiwanese foods and baked goods. 

The owners of Taiwan Foods, Inc., Hai Pou Chiu and Hsiu Ying Yeh Chiu, said, “Mercantile Capital Corporation’s employees were a pleasure to work with and helped us fulfill our dreams.” 

Mercantile Capital Corporation’s SMARTChoice  Commercial Loan Program helps owners of small to mid-sized businesses have an opportunity to increase their net-worth through Commercial property ownership.  Mercantile’s specialization in SMARTChoice  Commercial Loans, also known as SBA 504’s, allows their borrowers to own their Commercial property with one-third to half down payment required by ordinary banks, while getting the least expensive capital available in the marketplace.  This allows business owners to reduce their risk and stay more liquid, while gaining all the benefits of Commercial real estate ownership. 

For more information, visit www.TheSmartChoiceLoan.com and www.504Blog.com.

Contacts:

Chris Hurn, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Robin Lashley, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Chris Hurn, CEO of Mercantile Capital Corporation, the SBA 504 Loan specialist, was recently featured in The Wall Street Journal as one of America’s PremierExperts®, offering advice for businesses in the current economy. 

Orlando, Fla. – August 8, 2009 – An elite group of celebrity experts from various industries were recently featured in The Wall Street Journal in a half-page article of the July 23, 2009 issue. Chris Hurn, CEO of Inc. 500 company Mercantile Capital Corporation was chosen as one of America’s PremierExperts® based on his expertise and success in the commercial real estate finance industry, specifically his specialty in lending SBA (Small Business Administration) 504 loans. Mercantile Capital Corporation focuses on providing SBA 504 loans for small business owners to acquire or enhance their own facilities.

The feature in The Wall Street Journal posed the question, “What is the one big business idea you would give business owners to help them thrive in our current economy?”  Hurn replied, “Get rid of any weaknesses in your business to become a little leaner. What you’ll have left are your strengths, and you can redouble your efforts there. Whether it be in marketing or sales, in trying to pick up market share, now is the time to do that, and you have to have the courage to do it.” 

The experts quoted by America’s PremierExperts® in the article are forward-thinking business owners, entrepreneurs, professional speakers, authors and corporate CEOs.

America’s PremierExperts™ LLC is an organization that honors celebrity experts who are dedicated to spreading knowledge and awareness in their field of expertise and making significant contributions to their industry and the marketplace as a whole.

To find out more about Chris Hurn and Mercantile Capital Corporation, please visit http://www.TheSmartChoiceLoan.com

To find out more about America’s PremierExperts™ visit http://www.AmericasPremierExperts.com

About Mercantile Capital Corporation:

Recently named to the Inc. 500 list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies, Mercantile Capital Corporation has been called the “Fastest Growing Commercial Lender in America,” the “most unique and entrepreneurial bankers around,” and the “fun bankers.” From its start in late 2002, MCC has focused on providing SBA 504 loans for small business owners to acquire or enhance their own facilities all over the country.

Additional information on MCC and its commercial loan offerings is available at http://www.TheSmartChoiceLoan.com

About America’s PremierExperts™ LLC:America’s PremierExperts™ is an organization that recognizes celebrity experts in their field of business and offers business owners, entrepreneurs, professional speakers, authors, professionals and corporate CEOs exclusive, invitation-only, opportunities for further exposure and growth in the marketplace.  JW Dicks, Esq. and Nick Nanton, Esq., attorneys by trade and entrepreneurs by choice, founded America’s PremierExperts™ and The Ultimate Celebrity Branding Experience™ to honor entrepreneurs, CEOs, authors, professional speakers and businesspeople who are dedicated to spreading knowledge and awareness in their field of expertise and making significant contributions to their industry and the marketplace as a whole.  For more information about America’s PremierExperts™ LLC visit www.AmericasPremierExperts.com.

Chris Hurn, co-founder and chief executive officer of Mercantile Capital Corporation, said the firm has made substantial investments in its human resources. 

“One of the primary goals of the SBA 504 loan program is to create new jobs, so we are definitely a people company,” Hurn said. “We have substantially invested in our human resources, from training, compensation and benefits to bonuses and our working environment,” Hurn said. 

This is the fourth time in five years that Mercantile has been honored with this award. 

Visit www.504Experts.com or www.504blog.com for more information

 Contact Information:

Chris Hurn, CEO, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Geof Longstaff, Chairman, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Shannon D. Marks, President/COO, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 

Chris Hurn, CEO of Mercantile Capital Corporation, the SBA 504 Loan specialist, was recently featured on FOX Business News to discuss the environment for small business lending right now, especially in the wake of the CIT fallout.  

Orlando, FL – July 29, 2009 – Chris Hurn, CEO/Cofounder of Inc. 500 company Mercantile Capital Corporation was recently asked to make a guest appearance on FOX Business News based on his expertise in small business lending, specifically the SBA 504 Loan. Chris was asked to appear on the show to enlighten small business owners and others on the current small business lending atmosphere, especially with the recent near-collapse of major small business lender CIT. 

Brian Sullivan of FOX Business News posed the question, “Is the falling rate of SBA loans a reflection of lack of demand and people not wanting to start a business, or a reflection of the government lending out less by backing fewer loans through companies like yours?” Hurn replied, “It’s not so much the government lending less. The $15 billion in TARP funds used to buy SBA debt haven’t materialized yet, they keep talking about it, but it hasn’t come to fruition and it was announced back in March. That will add liquidity to the market place, but there are still plenty of SBA dollars out there. In the past two fiscal years, the SBA 504 Loan program, for instance, left $3.3 billion, authorized for use, unspent. This year it’s going to be $4 to $4.5 billion. All the SBA needs to do is get with some of the politicians and tweak the existing programs to tap another source of funds which would be a lot more dramatic of an impact than this $255 million ARC program which only did a few less than 400 loans their first month of business!”  

To watch the full video discussion (only 6 min.) visit:  http://www.504experts.com/blog/fox-business-news-hr-2527.php 

Guests on FOX Business News are brought in to discuss current events in their field of expertise. 

FOX Business News (FBN) is headquartered in News Corporation’s studios in midtown Manhattan. FBN also has established bureaus in such key markets as Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco (Silicon Valley), Washington, D.C. and London. You can view them on multiple cable operators, including Time Warner, Comcast, Charter and Direct TV, as well as on FOXBusiness.com. 

To Find out more about Chris Hurn and Mercantile Capital Corporation, please visit http://TheSmartChoiceLoan.com

About Mercantile Capital Corporation:

Recently named to the Inc. 500 list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies, Mercantile Capital Corporation has been called the “Fastest Growing Commercial Lender in America,” the “Most Unique and Entrepreneurial Bankers Around,” and the “Fun Bankers.” From its start in late 2002, MCC has focused on providing SBA 504 loans for small business owners to acquire or enhance their own facilities all over the country. 

Additional information on MCC and its commercial loan offerings is available at http://www.TheSmartChoiceLoan.com

Chris Hurn, CEO of Mercantile Capital Corporation, the SBA 504 Loan specialist, was recently featured in Newsweek as one of America’s PremierExperts®, offering advice for businesses in the current economy. 

Orlando, Fla. – July 29, 2009 – An elite group of celebrity experts from various industries were recently featured in Newsweek in a full-page of the July 27, 2009 issue. Chris Hurn, CEO of Inc. 500 company Mercantile Capital Corporation was chosen as one of America’s PremierExperts® based on his expertise and success in the commercial real estate finance industry, specifically his specialty in lending SBA (Small Business Administration) 504 loans. Mercantile Capital Corporation focuses on providing SBA 504 loans for small business owners to acquire or enhance their own facilities.

The feature in Newsweek posed the question, “What is the one big business idea you would give business owners to help them thrive in our current economy?”  Hurn replied, “In my experience it takes a number of years in business before you have that aha! moment: that realization that you’ve been throwing your money away renting property all these years instead of using that rental expense to work for you…buy your office!” 

The experts quoted by America’s PremierExperts® in the article are forward-thinking business owners, entrepreneurs, professional speakers, authors and corporate CEOs.

America’s PremierExperts™ LLC is an organization that honors celebrity experts who are dedicated to spreading knowledge and awareness in their field of expertise and making significant contributions to their industry and the marketplace as a whole.

To find out more about Chris Hurn and Mercantile Capital Corporation, please visit http://www.TheSmartChoiceLoan.com

To find out more about America’s PremierExperts™ visit http://www.AmericasPremierExperts.com

About Mercantile Capital Corporation:

Recently named to the Inc. 500 list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies, Mercantile Capital Corporation has been called the “Fastest Growing Commercial Lender in America,” the “most unique and entrepreneurial bankers around,” and the “fun bankers.” From its start in late 2002, MCC has focused on providing SBA 504 loans for small business owners to acquire or enhance their own facilities all over the country.

Additional information on MCC and its commercial loan offerings is available at http://www.TheSmartChoiceLoan.com

About America’s PremierExperts™ LLC:America’s PremierExperts™ is an organization that recognizes celebrity experts in their field of business and offers business owners, entrepreneurs, professional speakers, authors, professionals and corporate CEOs exclusive, invitation-only, opportunities for further exposure and growth in the marketplace.  JW Dicks, Esq. and Nick Nanton, Esq., attorneys by trade and entrepreneurs by choice, founded America’s PremierExperts™ and The Ultimate Celebrity Branding Experience™ to honor entrepreneurs, CEOs, authors, professional speakers and businesspeople who are dedicated to spreading knowledge and awareness in their field of expertise and making significant contributions to their industry and the marketplace as a whole.  For more information about America’s PremierExperts™ LLC visit www.AmericasPremierExperts.com.

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — Mercantile Capital Corporation, which specializes in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans for owners of small businesses who want to acquire their own facilities, reports a record low for the 20-year fixed interest rate on SBA 504 loan projects.  This month, the rate fell to 5.24%, the lowest since the program’s inception more than 20 years ago.  

Chris Hurn, CEO and Cofounder of Mercantile Capital Corporation, commented, “This record low interest rate for 504 loans, combined with the fee reductions included in the Stimulus Bill, makes it even more attractive for business owners to purchase or expand their facilities.” 

SBA 504 loans allow owners of small and mid-sized businesses to purchase, construct, or renovate their commercial property with as little as 10 percent down, long terms (up to 25 years) and fixed interest rates.  Equipment and other fixed assets can also be included in these loans, to the benefit of the borrower.  The SBA announced in June that it would ease the restrictions on using 504 loan funds for the purposes of refinancing, as long as it pertains to business expansion.  

“The SBA 504 loan has long been a powerful tool for business owners to grow and expand their operations.  I hope the announcement of this historically low interest rate will cause more of America’s entrepreneurs to perk up and realize that there are once-in-a-generation opportunities for them to create wealth and help get our economy back on track,” says Hurn.   

Mercantile Capital Corporation ranks as one of the most active providers of SBA 504 loans nationwide, allowing owners of small and mid-sized businesses to own commercial property with up to 90% loan-to-cost financing.  

Visit www.504Experts.com or www.504blog.com for more information

Contact Information:

Chris Hurn, CEO, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Geof Longstaff, Chairman, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Shannon D. Marks, President/COO, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142 

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — Mercantile Capital Corporation, which specializes in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans for small business owners who want to acquire or develop their own facilities, closed on four commercial property loans valued at more than $5.8 million in June.

Geof Longstaff, chairman of Mercantile Capital Corporation, said the firm’s largest loan in June was for $4.2 million and will fund the acquisition and renovation of the Old Mill Crab House in Ocean City, Md.

Longstaff said he expects to close on some 15 loans during the third quarter of this year and more than 20 loans during the fourth quarter.

For more information, visit http://www.TheSmartChoiceLoan.com or contact:

Geof Longstaff, Chairman, Mercantile Capital Corporation 407-786-5040

Chris Hurn, Chief Executive Officer, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Shannon Marks, President/COO, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – The U.S. Small Business Administration’s helpful decision recently to extend its SBA-504 lending program —which helps small business owners who want to acquire or develop their own facilities—doesn’t go far enough, says Chris Hurn, chief executive officer of Mercantile Capital Corporation in Altamonte Springs.

Hurn’s analysis, which he published at www.504Experts.com, is getting some major media traction, including a lengthy interview in the New York Times.

The most recent SBA initiative—announced last February and put into effect recently—extends the SBA’s 504 lending program to include refinancing.

Hurn gives the SBA credit for extending the 504 loan program. But the SBA initiative requires businesses to use new funds for expansion purposes only.

“That’s the kink,” Hurn said. “How many small businesses are in an expansion mode in this economy?” he asked.

Billions of dollars worth of potential small business loans go unfunded every year, Hurn said.

“That money needs to be in the marketplace to have any positive effect on small business growth.  The $255 million,” Hurn said.

The numbers back Hurn’s proposition: SBA 504 loans are down 41.5 percent this fiscal year and the total dollar amount funded has dropped 42.5 percent from last year.

“The SBA is moving in the right direction, but the positive impact on small business growth in the U.S. would be explosive if SBA would lift its restriction to small business expansion and open the door to true refinancing,” Hurn added.

For more information, contact:

Chris Hurn, Chief Executive Officer Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Shannon Marks, President, Mercantile Capital Corporation, 407-786-5040

Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142