ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that due to a steady decrease in visitors it will permanently close its Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) in Berlin and Morrisville, Vermont, as of the close of business on Tuesday, Sept. 12. The Business Recovery Center at the Engel & Völkers Okemo Bldg. in Ludlow will remain open until further notice. The Centers’ hours of operation are as follows:
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Business Recovery Center Lamoille County
The Lamoille County Agriculture Building Morrisville, VT 05661
Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday – Closed Closing permanently Sept. 12, at 5 p.m. |
Business Recovery Center Washington County
Vermont Chamber of Commerce Berlin, VT 05641
Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday - Closed Closing permanently Sept. 12, at 5 p.m. |
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Business Recovery Center Windsor County
Engel & Völkers Okemo Building Ludlow, VT 05149
Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday - Closed |
The SBA operates Business Recovery Centers based on where they are needed most and works closely with state and municipal partners to determine those sites. Once a location begins to see a significant drop in application visits, the SBA and its partners coordinate to determine the closing date.
Business owners and nonprofit organizations affected by the severe storms and floods that occurred on July 7-17 can meet with loan specialists at the remaining BRC in Ludlow to have their questions answered and apply for an SBA disaster loan for physical damage and economic injury.
Applicants may apply via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration # 18016.
To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register with FEMA online at DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA mobile app or call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362 or 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Disaster loan information and application forms can be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services) or sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from 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 filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Oct. 12, 2023. The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 15, 2024.