Bobber Flats nears completion

Another former factory in Shockoe Bottom has been converted into apartments.

Located at 20th and Franklin, Bobber Flats will bring 41 one- and two-bedroom units to the neighborhood when it is completed in December. There is also a 700-square-foot office space.

Sensei Development and Monument Construction have spent $4.7 million so far. The project is part of an entire rehabilitation of the block bounded by Main and 21st streets — which is projected to cost $35 million. Read more

SBA lending rebounds

Lending is starting to flow again to small businesses.

The Small Business Administration Richmond office helped broker 230 loans in the most recent quarter, which ends today. That’s 19 more than the same quarter last year – and the first quarter in a year not see at least a 27 percent decrease in the number of loans issued.

Two quarters ago, the number of loans was down more than 50 percent from the previous year.

“There’s a little more confidence out there in the small-business community,” said Scott Dailey, an assistant director at the SBA’s Richmond office, which handles the entire state except for Northern Virginia. Read more