The Small Business Administration has something to say: Work for yourself.

The federal agency is publicizing their government funded loans for established business owners and entrepreneurs. And they’re making the case that layoffs, depleted savings accounts and otherwise sour signs of recession don’t necessarily point toward this being a bad time to start a business.

SBA loans could be issued free off fees for some entrepreneurs, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act enacted in February.

More recent developments appropriated money from the America’s Recovery Capital program for loans to existing small businesses.

“The purpose of these loans is to help people stay current on their debt, keep their credit rating up,” said SBA Regional Administrator Nancy Porzio at a publicity event Thursday.

The event showcased one of the region’s earliest recovery loan recipients: an Ace Hardware store in Everett’s Silver Lake neighborhood.