- May 12 2026
- Mississippi
A Mississippi Boutique Gets a Fresh Start with an FHLB Dallas Small Business Boost Loan
That changed when her longtime banker, First State Bank, introduced her to the Small Business Boost (SBB) program from FHLB Dallas. With SBB filling the down payment gap, Ms. Bishop purchased the boutique, renamed it The Wild Bleu Boutique, refreshed its inventory and opened just in time for the 2025 Christmas shopping season.
The SBB is a secondary unsecured loan from FHLB Dallas provided through an FHLB Dallas member—in this case First State Bank—that fills the gap between what an FHLB Dallas member can finance and the loan requested by the small business. Members use it to provide financing beyond their loan when there’s a lack of equity, a collateral shortfall or initial debt service challenges.
“It was great to see that there are programs out there for people like me, and I’d encourage other would‑be small business owners to learn more,” Ms. Bishop said.
For First State Bank, the SBB program was essential.
“It allowed us to provide the necessary capital to get this to the finish line,” Assistant Vice President Ty Sharp said. He praised both the program’s ease of use and Ms. Bishop’s strong business instincts.
First State Bank provided $275,000 in financing and FHLB Dallas added $65,000 through the SBB.
Today, The Wild Bleu Boutique is thriving with local support and a renewed presence in Waynesboro’s historic downtown. “My mentality is that I want somebody to come in here for something all of the time,” Ms. Bishop said. “We have a little bit of everything and we’ve had amazing small‑town support.”
