The vision, tenacity and acumen of people who make the leap of faith to start small businesses are tested in the best of economic times — and sorely buffeted in times of recession, as experienced in the last few years. While government in general, and Congress specifically, remain mired in politicking over job-creation proposals, small businesses must be encouraged, and supported, in efforts to launch and stay afloat.

A promising boost came Thursday, with the U.S. Small Business Administration launching a $1 billion Early Stage Innovation Fund to provide matching capital to beginning small businesses. The "Startup America" project will rely on new SBA rules modifications to allow more leveraging of private-sector funds to be invested in innovation and entrepreneurship ventures.

In tandem, a Startup America Partnership of more than 50 companies announced another $1 billion in services — from free software and consulting to legal services — to 100,000 new companies over the next three years. That partnership is led by Steve Case, AOL co-founder and former Hawaii resident who maintains strong ties here, including his Revolution land holdings in Maui Land & Pine and Grove Farm.

Even as it uses executive action to get around the congressional quagmire, the Obama administration urged Congress to move on legislation to help small businesses with important tools. Among them:

» Small businesses seeking private capital under $5 million are now exempt from a variety of regulations; one move seeks to increase that ceiling to $50 million to make it easier for small companies to raise capital.

» Certain regulations for small, high-growth firms will be phased in, to provide a transition period to help companies hold down costs during ramp-up while still protecting investors.

In its small-business push this week, the administration also included an online policy challenge for new ideas toward innovations in health care, clean energy and education, and to gain commitments from 100 community colleges to promote entrepreneurship.

These welcome steps come at the heels of a banner time in Hawaii for small-business loans, in which the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Hawaii office lent a record $73.6 million to 343 small businesses in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. That was $10 million more than the previous mark set in 2004.

"The record loan volume is a great sign," said Jane Sawyer, SBA district director. "Each loan makes a big difference to our economic and employment outlook."

Local banks also deserve pats for taking chances on local ventures, helping to realize entrepreneurial dreams as well as create hubs of needed jobs.

Start-up help is vital — so, too, is sustainability in the long run. A prime example of crucial support occurred just two weeks ago, when a nationwide marketing and awareness push for Small Business Saturday urged post-Thanksgiving consumers to shop local and small. Some 103 million shoppers heeded the call then, well over the projected 89 million. Now comes the challenge of sustaining such support of local small businesses as a matter of routine.

Start-ups can come, some will go — but it’s up to patrons with the spending means to keep them afloat, and to keep the money circulating.