TX 15274-12 SBA to Change Operating Hours at All SBA Business Recovery Centers

SACRAMENTO, Calif.

– The U.S. Small Business Administration, the University of Houston Small Business Development Center, the University of Houston-Victoria Small Business Development Center and the Texas Gulf Coast Small Business Development Center today announced that beginning Oct 22, 2017, SBA’s Business Recovery Centers in Beaumont, Houston, Missouri City, Port Aransas and Rockport will no longer be open on Sundays.

The centers will continue to be open Mondays through Saturdays to provide a wide range of services to businesses impacted by Hurricane Harvey. For a complete list of hours of operation see below.

“The SBA is strongly committed to providing Texas businesses of all sizes and private nonprofits organizations with the most effective and customer‑focused response possible,” said Director Tanya N. Garfield of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West. “The Business Recovery Centers will continue to provide a one-stop location for businesses to access a variety of specialized help. SBA customer service representatives and SBDC business advisors will be available to meet individually with each business owner,” she added. No appointment is necessary. All services are provided free of charge.

“To date, SBA has approved 1,035 business disaster loans for $103,181,200 and 13,785 disaster loans for homeowners and renters totaling $1,155,132,900, bringing SBA’s total to $1,258,314,100, Garfield said.

“At the Business Recovery Centers, 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, help each business owner complete their application to apply for this much needed financial help and help them close their approved disaster loans,” continued Garfield.

SBDC business advisors at the centers will provide business assistance to clients 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 working capital needs, evaluating the business’s strength, cash flow projections and most importantly, a review of options with the business owner to help them evaluate their alternatives and make decisions that are appropriate for their disaster recovery.

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 to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

For business owners who are unable to visit the business recovery center, they may apply online using SBA’s secure website at

https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela

.

SBA representatives also continue to meet with business owners and residents at all federal/state disaster recovery centers located throughout the impacted area. For a list of locations, or to receive additional disaster assistance information, visit SBA’s website at

www.sba.gov/disaster

. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email

disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

for more information. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 877-8339. 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. 24, 21017. The deadline for economic injury loans is May 25, 2018.