The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Small business lending is showing small signs of growth, according to data compiled by the government.

The total amount of small business loans outstanding at the end of the fourth quarter came to $586 billion, up from $584 billion in the third quarter, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. That was the first quarterly gain in small business lending since the FDIC began tracking loans on a quarterly basis at the start of 2010. The FDIC is a government agency that insures bank deposits and oversees financial companies.

The Small Business Lending Fund, a fund set that promotes lending to small businesses and was created as part of the Small Business Jobs Act, has increased its lending to North Carolina small businesses by more than $205.3 million.

According to the U.S. Treasury Department's report, those participating in the SBLF have increased lending for six straight quarters. Nationwide, "SBLF participants have increased lending by $7.4 billion overall and $740 million over the prior quarter."

“Community banks participating in the Obama Administration’s Small Business Lending Fund have consistently increased small business lending over the past two years, resulting in increased access to capital for thousands of small and family-owned businesses across the country,” said Neal Wolin, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury.