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Altamonte Springs, Fla. – January 27, 2009 – Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC, 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 Coakley’s Restaurant & Tavern on December 31th, 2008 for $2,107,200.00 in total project costs.

Coakley’s Restaurant & Tavern has been in operation for over 31 years and is considered to be a landmark destination located in New Cumberland, Penn.  The location has been a bar/tavern since the late 1800’s.  Coakley’s is even considered the local unofficial headquarters for the Pittsburg Steelers.  Their menu offers American Cuisine with a distinct Irish pub flair.   

“Getting financing through Mercantile’s SmartChoice loan was a streamlined process,” said Timothy Hogg, owner of Coakley’s.  For more information on Coakley’s Restaurant & Tavern, please visit www.coakleys.com.    

Mercantile Commercial Capital’s SmartChoice  Commercial Loan Program helps owners of small to mid-sized businesses, like Mr. Hogg, have an opportunity to create wealth and financial freedom.  Mercantile’s specialization in SmartChoice  Commercial Loans, also known as SBA 504’s, allow borrowers to own their property with the highest cash-on-cash return available, without tying up their precious capital.

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

Contacts:

Chris Hurn, Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC 407-786-5040

Robin Lashley, Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC 407-786-5040

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC, the Orlando area firm that 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, reported it closed on 43 commercial loans in 2008 valued at more than $75 million.           

Christopher G. Hurn, co-founder and president of Mercantile Commercial Capital, said overall loan volume was down just slightly from 2007 levels but strong growth toward the end of the year bodes well for 2009 prospects.           

“We processed commercial property loans in 17 states, including 17 loans in Florida during 2008,” Hurn said.           

The firm’s largest single loan for the year—for $6.1 million—financed the acquisition and redevelopment of a Fort Lauderdale manufacturing plant.           

“The SBA 504 loan program might rank as the most effective business stimulus program offered by any U.S. government agency,” Hurn said.           

“Each loan is tied to job creation, and the overall effect of the program is to provide below-market interest rates that substantially increase capital availability for small business growth,” he said. 

For more information please visit www.504experts.com or contact

Chris Hurn, CEO Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC 407-786-5040

Geof Longstaff, Chairman Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC 407-786-5040

Robin Lashley, Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC 407-786-5040

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, Larry Vershel Communications, 407-644-4142  

Altamonte Springs, Fla. – January 16, 2009 – Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC, 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 Beckman & Associates, Inc. on December 16th, 2008 for $1,185,000.00 in total project costs. 

Beckman & Associates Specialty Therapy Clinic was founded in 1984 (incorporated in1999) by internationally recognized motor speech and feeding disorder expert, Debra Beckman, MS, CCC-SLP (www.beckmanoralmotor.com ).  The clinic offers services for pediatric speech, occupational and physical therapy needs, as well as speech therapy for adult oral motor concerns.  In addition, the clinic partners with the University of Central Florida, Communicative Disorders Department, to mentor future speech language pathologists and to collaborate on definitive clinical research.  The current large scale project focuses on healthy babies with difficulty feeding.  Thus far, over 1,000 local families have participated in this project. 

“The whole staff at Mercantile was very helpful and efficient, from the front desk to my closing contact.  The team at Mercantile worked 24/7 to close this loan in a timely manner.  They all played a part in making the loan process seamless.  Through their efforts, our clinic will be the only facility in the area built to address the needs of environmentally sensitive children, with special lighting; special surfaces for the flooring, ceiling and walls; and air filtration with a UV  system ,” said owner/President of Beckman & Associates, Inc., Debra Beckman.      

Mercantile Commercial Capital’s SMARTChoice  Commercial Loan Program helps owners of small to mid-sized businesses, like Ms. Beckman, 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 Commercial Capital, LLC 407-786-5040

Robin Lashley, Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC 407-786-5040

Chris Hurn, CEO of Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC and SBA 504 Loan specialist, was recently featured in USA Today as one of America’s PremierExperts™, in recognition of being one of America’s leading commercial real estate finance experts. 

Orlando, Fla. – January 6, 2009 – An elite group of celebrity experts from various industries were featured in USA Today in a full page color spotlight on December 19, 2008.  One of these experts, Chris Hurn, CEO of Inc. 500 company Mercantile Commercial Capital was featured as a member of America’s PremierExperts™.  Hurn was chosen for this honor for his expertise and success in the commercial real estate lending industry, specifically his specialty in lending SBA (Small Business Administration) 504 loans.  Mercantile Commercial Capital focuses on providing SBA 504 loans for small business owners to acquire or enhance their own facilities. 

Hurn said, “I’m very excited to be featured in USA Today with America’s PremierExperts™.  In today’s economic environment, it is important for USA Today’s readers, and others, to recognize that there are still businesses like ours that are thriving by making sound business decisions, and in our case, knowing the best way to get small businesses on their feet and running.” 

America’s PremierExperts™ LLC is an organization that honors an exclusive group of 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.  Upon acceptance into America’s PremiereExperts™ members are invited to apply to participate in a 12-month innovative and extremely exclusive program, The Ultimate Celebrity Branding Experience™, for highly motivated entrepreneurs and professionals, launched by Nick Nanton, Esq., The Celebrity Lawyer and J.W. Dicks, Esq., The Business Growth Lawyer, authors of the book, “Celebrity Branding You™.” 

The participants selected to participate in this year’s program are forward-thinking business owners, entrepreneurs, professional speakers, authors and corporate CEOs looking to distinguish their brand, increase profits, lock out their competition and capture a distinct advantage over competitors in their market. 

For more information on Chris Hurn and Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC, please visit: http://www.TheSmartChoiceLoan.com 

For more information on America’s PremierExperts™, please visit: http://www.AmericasPremierExperts.com 

About Chris Hurn and Mercantile Commercial Capital: 

Recently named to the Inc. 500 list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies, Mercantile Commercial Capital (MCC) 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.  The company was named “Best Place to Work” by the Orlando Business Journal in 2005, 2006 and 2007. 

Additional information on MCC and its loan offerings is available at http://www.TheSmartChoiceLoan.com or by calling (866) 622-2504 (toll free). 

About America’s PremierExperts™ LLC:America’s PremierExperts™ is an organization that recognizes celebrity experts in their field of business and offers entrepreneurs and professionals exclusive, invitation-only, opportunities for further exposure and growth in the marketplace.  JW Dicks, Esq. & 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 business people 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, CEO of Inc. 500 company Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC, discusses the role of the SBA 504 Loan program in jumpstarting the American economy, in a recent blog posting.

Altamonte Springs, Fla. – December 1, 2008 – Chris Hurn, CEO of Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC, which specializes in U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) 504 loans for small business owners who want to acquire or develop their own facilities, recently wrote a piece entitled “Can the SBA 504 Loan make a difference in our Economic Crisis?”

The blog, published on his popular blog at http://www.504blog.com, considers the positive economic impact that the SBA 504 loan program can have on our sagging economy, if properly utilized and promoted by our leaders in Washington.

In the blog posting, Hurn writes, “I have been a strong advocate for many years of at least allowing America’s entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses to utilize 504′s to refinance their business debts. Enabling them to have access to what is consistently the least expensive financing available in the commercial marketplace, would trigger a substantial economic stimulus exactly where we need it most: for the innovative small businesses that constitute 78.9% of the job creation in this country and over 50% of the private sector employment . . . for the people that will lead us out of our economic downturn. We need existing government programs to work optimally before we create brand new ones. The politicians in Washington need to look no further than the SBA and its 504 loan program for options to jump-start our economy . . . I think it’s time they start, for their sake and ours.”

The entire blog can be found at http://www.504experts.com/blog/can-the-sba-504-loan-make-a-difference-in-our-economic-crisis.php

 About Mercantile Commercial Capital:

 Recently named to the Inc. 500 list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies, Mercantile Commercial Capital 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 2003, MCC has focused on providing SBA 504 loans for small business owners to acquire or enhance their own facilities.  The company was named “Best Place to Work” by the Orlando Business Journal in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

 Additional information on MCC and its loan offerings is available at www.TheSmartChoiceLoan.com

Altamonte Springs, Fla. – November 21, 2008 – Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC, 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 Marcelin & Associates, P.A. on October 30th for $471,000 in total project costs.

 Established in May 2000, Marcelin & Associates, P.A. is a law firm that specializes in Business and Immigration Law.  The firm in based in Orlando.  Mercantile Commercial Capital provided long-term financing for their 1,904 square-foot office building with a 25-year, fully amortizing term and a very attractive 5-year fixed interest rate, with only 10% down.

 “Mercantile’s streamlined SMARTChoice loan process, allowed me to focus on my company while they handled the loan details,” said Jackson Marcelin, owner of Marcelin & Associates, P.A.  To learn more about Marcelin & Associates, please visit www.marcelinlaw.com.    

Mercantile Commercial Capital’s SMARTChoice  Commercial Loan Program helps owners of small to mid-sized businesses, like Mr. Marcelin, have an opportunity to create wealth and financial freedom.  Mercantile’s specialization in SMARTChoice  Commercial Loans, also known as SBA 504’s, allow borrowers to own their property with the highest cash-on-cash return available, without tying up their precious capital. 

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

Contacts:

Chris Hurn, Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC 407-786-5040

Robin Lashley, Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC 407-786-5040

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, LV Communications, 407-644-4142

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – November, 21, 2008 -Community banks will play the most important role in America’s economic recovery over the next five years, helping to restore public trust in American financial institutions and the flow of capital in public commerce. 

That’s the opinion of longtime Central Florida banker and business leader Geof Longstaff, who earned his MBA Degree from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College in Winter Park and currently serves as chairman of Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC, in Altamonte Springs. 

“Small community banks have been a part of the fabric of the American financial system for decades,” said Longstaff, an instructor at the Louisiana State University Graduate School of Banking. “They are run by local citizens who have a stake in the local community,” Longstaff explained.

 According to the Independent Community Bankers of America, there are nearly 8,500 community banks in the U.S. whose assets range from less than $10 million to a few billion dollars. Where many of the nation’s largest banks place a priority on serving large corporations, community banks focus attention on the needs of local families, businesses, and farmers. 

“Typically, community banks consider such indicators as character, family history and discretionary spending in making loans,” Longstaff said. “They channel most of their loans to local neighborhoods where their depositors live and work, and the end result is that community banks serve as the backbone of the American financial system,” Longstaff said. 

Central Florida community banks saw their share of deposits grow from 15 percent to 20 percent in the two years prior to June 30, 2008, Longstaff added, and since then deposits have risen further as a result of the banking crisis.

 “Community banks don’t have significant investments in subprime loans or deteriorating credit card debt,” Longstaff said. “They aren’t focused on restructuring their balance sheets or waiting for a government bailout,” he added. 

“Because business loan decisions are made locally, community banks are better able to respond quickly and effectively, whereas a large national or regional bank loan approval committee may meet in another state,” he said. 

“Community banks are themselves small businesses,” Longstaff added. “They understand the needs of small business owners. Their core concern is lending to small businesses and farms, not corporate America,” he said. 

For more information contactGeof Longstaff, Emergent National Bank (in organization), 407-786-5040Larry Vershel, Larry Vershel Communications 407-644-4142

Chris Hurn, CEO of Inc. 500 Company Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC, writes recurring blog on the economy, focusing on small businesses and SBA 504 Loans. 

Altamonte Springs, Fla. – November 21, 2008 – Chris Hurn, CEO of Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC, which specializes in U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) 504 loans for small business owners who want to acquire or develop their own facilities, has been writing a popular blog aimed at small business owners.  The blog covers a range of topics from the current U.S. economy to SBA 504 Loans, to Small Business Success Strategies®.

 The popular blog, which can be found at http://www.504experts.com or http://www.504blog.com, is a peek inside the mind of Chris Hurn, one of the nation’s foremost experts on commercial loans for small businesses.  Chris often offers his insights on the current state of the economy and how that translates to the small business owner.  Hurn offers a positive alternative to other media outlets.  With cautious optimism, Hurn focuses on the American entrepreneurial spirit and the fortitude of the small business owner.  The blog has gained enormous popularity throughout the business community.  

 About Mercantile Commercial Capital: 

Recently named to the Inc. 500 list of America’s Fastest Growing Companies, Mercantile Commercial Capital 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 2003, MCC has focused on providing SBA 504 loans for small business owners to acquire or enhance their own facilities.  The company was named “Best Place to Work” by the Orlando Business Journal in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

 Additional information on MCC and its loan offerings is available at www.504Experts.com

Altamonte Springs, Fla.  - November 19, 2008 – Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC, 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 Monroe United Martial Arts Center (UMAC), Inc. on October 30th for $1,920,000 in total project costs.

 The UMAC franchise, based in Monroe, New York, offers an after-school program and summer camp, as well as year-round Tae Kwon Do classes.  Monroe UMAC has been in operation for six years.  Mercantile Commercial Capital provided long-term financing for the 10,400 square-foot martial arts center with a 25-year, fully amortizing term and a very attractive 5-year fixed interest rate, with only 10% down. 

“There were many challenges along the way to getting my SMARTChoice Loan, but Mercantile was always there to help,” said Joseph Preira, owner of Monroe UMAC.  “This was my first commercial real estate acquisition, and I consider myself lucky to have Mercantile backing me up.”  To learn more about Monroe UMAC, Inc. visit www.umacenters.com.

 By utilizing Mercantile Commercial Capital’s SMARTChoice loan, small to mid-sized business owners, like Mr. Preira, can own their property with less money down, longer terms, and better interest rates than they can get with ordinary commercial banks.  Mercantile’s borrowers are able to get the highest cash-on-cash return available in the marketplace for their investments. 

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

Contacts:

Chris Hurn, Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC 407-786-5040

Robin Lashley, Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC 407-786-5040

Larry Vershel or Beth Payan, LV Communications, 407-644-4142

Mercantile Commercial Capital, a Florida-based firm specializing in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 loans, announced today that despite the reluctance of many banks to lend money it continues to fund commercial real estate projects for owners of small and mid-sized businesses.

Altamonte Springs, FL / November 10, 2008 – As banks across the country turn down small business owners for their commercial real estate loans, Mercantile Commercial Capital has announced their intention, and ability, to continue lending.  “The ‘freeze’ that some banks are experiencing is unfortunately giving the banking industry a black eye, and it’s contributing to more fear in the marketplace,” said Christopher Hurn, President/CEO/Cofounder of Mercantile Commercial Capital.  “Now is a great time for business owners to increase their net worth by having the courage to purchase discounted commercial property.  We’re able to make viable 504 loans, or what we call ‘SmartChoice Commercial Loans,’ out of what big banks are turning down and help our clients own their commercial property.” 

Mercantile Commercial Capital ranks as one of the nation’s leading providers of SBA 504 loans for small business owners who want to acquire or develop their own facilities.  Headquartered in Altamonte Springs, Florida, the firm provides financing for projects nationwide and has correspondents located in: Chicago, Illinois; Park Ridge, Illinois; Westminster, Colorado; Larkspur, Colorado; and Sebastopol, California.  

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

 Media Contacts:

Chris Hurn, Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC 407-786-5040

Robin Lashley, Mercantile Commercial Capital, LLC 407-786-5040