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SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah is leading the way when it comes to business. From start-ups to billion dollar companies, the secret is out. One small company is growing thanks to a program that's been around for decades - the Small Business Administration.
For Steve Hatch and Katie Masterson, making chocolates is about so much more than just making money...it's in their DNA.
The Hatch's were part of a TLC series, "The Little Chocolatiers," that aired a couple of years ago when they were in their original, much smaller location.
As a business, Kate and I were working our butts off. I mean, we were doing everything we could in a smaller building," Steve said. "We had a vision that we wanted to expand, we wanted to get in to a bigger spot, we wanted to stay in the neighborhood - but there was just no way."
Now, they're flourishing in a 5,000 square foot building in the avenues near LDS Hospital. And they say it's all because of a loan backed by the Small Business Administration.
"The government guarantees the loans so the bank is able to take a riskier opportunity and give it a good solid basis of support," said Daniel Hannaher, a regional administrator for the SBA.
Hannaher wanted to see firsthand how the SBA is directly impacting the Hatch's chocolate business. From the building, to the equipment, even the elevator - all of this was made possible through an often overlooked government program that's been around for nearly 60 years.
The first thing you notice when you come in to Hatch Family Chocolates is of course, the chocolate. But there's a sweet success story here that the SBA hopes to replicate around the country.
"This is a small business, but it's thousands of these across the country that are going to help this country dig out of the hole we've gotten ourselves in to," Hannaher said. "It was a good collaborative effort between all three of us."
The Hatch's relied on the SBA long before they opened their doors. They attended free classes through the Small Business Development Center at UVU - a collaborative effort between the government and universities offering guidance to owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Email: [shaws@ksl.com](<mailto: shaws@ksl.com>)
