SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration and the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center today announced the opening of a SBA Business Recovery Center in Sulphur on Friday, May 3, to provide a wide range of services to businesses impacted by severe storms, straight‑line winds, tornadoes and flooding that began April 25.
“Due to the severe property damage and economic losses inflicted on Oklahoma businesses, we want to provide every available service to help get them back on their feet,” said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “The center will provide a one-stop location for businesses to access a variety of specialized help. SBA customer service representatives will be available to meet individually with each business owner,” he added. No appointment is necessary. All services are provided free of charge. The center will open as indicated below.
MURRAY COUNTY
Business Recovery Center
Mary Parker Memorial Library
500 W Broadway Ave.
Sulphur, OK 73086
Opens at 9 a.m. Friday, May 3
Mondays - Fridays, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
According to Oklahoma Small Business Development Center’s State Director, Michele Hockersmith, SBDC business advisors 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 business 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 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 to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.
SBA representatives will also provide help to business owners and residents at disaster recovery centers when they are opened in the impacted area.
In addition, applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA 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.
The deadline to apply for property damage is July 1, 2024. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Jan. 30, 2025.
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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 www.sba.gov.
Disaster press release
OK 20303-02