Santa Paula small businesses may receive some help with a micro-loan program jointly sponsored by California State University, Channel Islands Small Business Institute and the city of Santa Paula.

The program will focus on helping small businesses, which usually have trouble getting loans, a press release said. The small businesses that are approved for loans will be able to qualify for free management and technical business assistance provided by senior and graduate-level CSUCI business students.

The program is expected to be announced today at 6 p.m. in front of Santa Paula City Hall.

The institute will operate from its university offices and will work with the Economic Development Department of the city to screen, analyze, and recommend approval of loan requests.

Santa Paula City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz expects the program not only to help businesses in the city but the city's residents as well.

"The City Council has considered and is concerned with economic vitality," Bobkiewicz said. "We expect the program to increase the city's tax revenue and also create and provide jobs for the residents of Santa Paula."

Rudolph Estrada, director of the institute, praised the program.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate our university's commitment to the small business community by helping enhance the success of these small businesses and at the same time drawing upon the growing technical business talent of our finest business students," Estrada said.