LA 14811-12 SBA to Close Sundays at its Business Recovery Centers in Amite, Baker and Lafayette

SACRAMENTO, Calif.

– The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Louisiana Department of Economic Development (LED) and Louisiana Small Business Development Centers (LSBDCs) today announced that three of SBA’s Business Recovery Centers will no longer be open on Sundays, beginning Sept. 18. The centers 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. These centers will continue to be open on Mondays – Saturdays at the times listed below.

“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. “These centers will continue to provide a one-stop location for businesses to meet individually with specialists from the SBA and the Louisiana Small Business Development Centers.”

Business Recovery Center hours and locations:

SBA continues to provide personal assistance to business owners at five other SBA Business Recovery Centers.

Additional Business Recovery Center hours and locations:

SBA also has customer service representatives located in each of the 28 federal-state Disaster Recovery Centers located throughout Louisiana. For recovery center locations, and details on how to apply for SBA disaster loans, go to

https://www.sba.gov/offices/disaster/dfocw/declaration/1538306

.

SBA representatives will continue to 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.

LSBDC consultants will also 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. LSBDC 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.

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

https://www.sba.gov/disaster

. 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 Oct. 13, 2016. The deadline for economic injury loans is May 15, 2017.