There are about 1000 small businesses that have their bank papers all in order, but are stalling final signatures of approval until the small business aid bill passes the senate. Business owners were hoping it would pass in July.

In the meantime, hiring, supply buying and real estate expansion are all on hold.

An article in USA Today, entitled Small businesses hold off spending while waiting for aid, said this is what’s in the bill:

•An increase on government guarantees to as much as 90% on some of the most popular loans.

•About 8,000 community banks with assets of $10 billion or less would be eligible to tap into the $30 billion fund when making small-business loans.

•Small businesses would get about $18 billion in tax breaks, such as larger write-offs on capital equipment investments, and get credits for new hires.

•The SBA would be able to increase the maximum for certain loans to $5 million from $2 million.