SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Director Jeffrey Lusk of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West announced today that SBA will close its Kailua-Kona and Kauai Business Recovery Centers at the close of business on Thursday, Nov. 9. “SBA opened the centers to provide personalized assistance to businesses that were affected by the wildfires, including high winds that occurred Aug. 8 to Sept. 30,” said Lusk.
Until the centers close, SBA customer service representatives will continue to meet with business owners to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process, help each individual complete their electronic loan application and close their approved loans. No appointment is necessary.
Hawaii County
Business Recovery Center
West Hawaii Civic Center
Next to the Vehicle Registration and Licensing office
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closes at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, November 9
Kauai County
Business Recovery Center
Kaua'i Federal Credit Union's new community space in Kapa'a
(former Otsuka Furniture building)
1624 Kuhio Highway
Kapa’a, HI 96746
Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closes at 6 p.m. Thursday, November 9
The SBA continues to provide one-on-one assistance to businesses and residents at all federal-state Disaster Recovery Centers, SBA Business Recovery Centers and the Business Resource Assessment Center to explain the SBA’s disaster loan program and help each business owner and resident apply. A link to the Hawaii recovery locations can be found here under Locations to Receive Assistance.
Businesses of all sizes 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. SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize disaster damage from occurring in the future.
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 to businesses regardless of any property damage.
Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.
Interest rates are 4% for businesses, 2.375% for private nonprofit organizations and 2.5% for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. The SBA’s disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at sba.gov/hawaii-wildfires. Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on the SBA’s disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. 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 is Nov. 9, 2023. The deadline to apply for economic injury is May 10, 2024.
Link to recovery centers can be found here and at: https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/disaster-details?recordId=a0e82000000IekiAAC
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit https://www.sba.gov/hawaii-wildfires.