I don't know about you, but a few years ago I was getting a dozen credit card offers each week and letters from banks begging me to borrow money. Now it is almost impossible to get a business loan or even open a new credit card account. Where is the access to capital for small business?

There are thousands of people ready to open their own business. The biggest obstacle keeping entrepreneurs from opening their doors is the lack of capital. Didn't we, the taxpayers, give billions of our money to banks? As the banks tighten their lending guidelines, I wonder how we can get the money out of the banks and into the hands of small business.

At a speech in Landover, Md., President Obama said, "There is still too little credit flowing to our small businesses. There are still too many entrepreneurs who can't get the loan they need to open their doors and start hiring.

"There are still too many who are struggling to make payroll and stay open. And there are still too many successful small businesses that want to expand further and hire more but just don't have the capital to do it," Obama said.

The International Franchise Association has been working with SBA to try to make lending more assessable for small business. The International Franchise Association welcomed Obama's support to increase SBA loan limits from $2 million to $5 million. If passed, that would pave the way for more franchise businesses to help create new jobs and set the country on the road to economic recovery.

During testimony before the House Small Business Committee¸ Matthew Shay, IFA president and CEO, claimed changes to SBA loan programs could create 650,000 new American jobs. Shay told lawmakers that making SBA loan programs work better for entrepreneurs seeking capital to open, acquire or expand a business will allow the economy to recover faster and provide the necessary bridge to a functioning commercial lending market once the recovery is complete.

Increasing loan limits is a great first step, but banks also need to adjust their guidelines to make it possible for startups to qualify for financing. With the unemployment rate expected to surpass 10 percent, we need to help small businesses open, stay open and create new jobs.

"Of all the steps we're taking to move this economy from recession to recovery, I continue to believe that the success of our small businesses will be a foundation upon which our future prosperity is built," Obama said. "So we will continue to do whatever we can to help these businesses grow and thrive."