Veteran business owners and farmers will have a better chance of qualifying for low-interest loans under an expansion of the BIG Missouri program, State Treasurer Sarah Steelman announced Monday.

That program allows banks to offer low-interest loans to qualifying business owners or farmers. This expansion would give veterans preference when awarding those loans.

(Just to be clear, veterans in this case refers to the military variety, not those business owners and farmers who have been in their capacity for a long time.)

Reservists and widows of veterans killed in combat are also eligible under the expansion.

“When their job has been disrupted, or maybe their small business, they may need that extra help,” Steelman said during a news conference at the Capitol.

Steelman will face off against U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof in the August Republican gubernatorial primary. Attorney General Jay Nixon is the presumptive Democratic nominee.

The three hopefuls also had speaking engagements at a Missouri Association of Counties gathering today.