SACRAMENTO, Calif.
– The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Louisiana Department of Economic Development (LED) and Louisiana Small Business Development Centers (LSBDCs) today announced the opening of an additional Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Youngsville to provide a wide range of services to businesses of all sizes and private nonprofits impacted by the severe storms and flooding that occurred Aug. 11-31, 2016. The center will open at 9 a.m. beginning Tuesday, Sept. 13.
“The SBA is strongly committed to providing Louisiana businesses of all sizes, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters with the most effective and customer‑focused response possible,” said SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. “The center will provide a one-stop location for businesses to meet individually with specialists from the SBA and the Louisiana Small Business Development Center.”
Business Recovery Center opening and location:
LAFAYETTE PARISH
Gulf Coast Bank
3000 E. Milton Ave.
Youngsville, LA 70592
Opens 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13
Mondays – Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Fridays, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
SBA continues to provide one-on-one assistance to business owners at federal-state Disaster Recovery Centers and seven other SBA Business Recovery Centers located throughout Louisiana.
SBA representatives will meet with each business owner to explain how an SBA disaster loan can help finance their recovery. They will answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each business owner complete their application to apply for this much needed financial help.
According to LSBDC State Director Rande Kessler, LSBDC consultants will provide counseling on a wide variety of matters designed to help small business owners re-establish their operations, overcome the effects of the disaster and plan for their future. “Services include assessing business economic injury, evaluating the business’s strength, cash flow projections and most importantly, a review of all options to ensure each business makes decisions that are appropriate for its situation,” Kessler said.
LED Secretary Don Pierson, and LSBDC Director Kessler want to ensure businesses secure the financial assistance they need to resume normal operations. “This highly trained and experienced team of consultants will be available to provide business consulting services designed to help these business owners re-establish their operations and plan for their future,” said Pierson.
Businesses of any size and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. These loans cover losses that are not fully covered by insurance or other recoveries.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
Business owners, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters may also apply online using SBA’s secure website at
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/
or get help from SBA representatives at any Disaster Recovery Center in Louisiana. Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955 or emailing
disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877‑8339.
For more disaster assistance information or to download applications, visit
. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The deadline to apply for property damage loans is October 13, 2016. The deadline for economic injury loans is May 15, 2017.