Small Business Growth Corporation (Growth Corp) is a statewide, not-for-profit corporation that works in conjunction with financial institutions to provide financing assistance to small businesses throughout the entire state of Illinois, and parts of Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, and Kentucky.

Growth Corp was founded in 1982 as the Illinois Small Business Growth Corporation. In 1988, the company was re-structured and re-certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to administer the 504 Loan Program throughout the State of Illinois.

In 1993, the ISBGC employed its first full-time President and began building its highly qualified professional staff. In the following years, loan volume increases have secured for the organization a ranking as one of the fastest growing Certified Development Corporations (CDC) in the nation. In 1999, the company was recognized by the SBA as the largest SBA lender in the state of Illinois.

ISBGC shortened their name to Small Business Growth Corporation or simply “Growth Corp” after receiving authorization to deliver the SBA 504 loan program to eastern Missouri, eastern Iowa, northwest Indiana, and western Kentucky, while still serving the entire state of Illinois. Growth Corp is now the largest SBA 504 lender in the Midwest, with offices located in Springfield, Southern Illinois, St. Louis, and two locations in Chicago.