The onslaught of powerful hurricanes over the past few weeks has posed major challenges for affected communities and our nation as a whole. Residents and businesses from Puerto Rico to Texas will likely be rebuilding from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and now Maria for years to come. And the U.S. Small Business Administration is offering a variety of resources to support their economic recovery.
- The SBA’s low-interest disaster loans support the long-term recovery of those areas affected by recent disasters. Homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to first register for federal assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 (1-800-621-FEMA).
- Visit SBA’s Hurricane Recovery page to apply for a disaster loan online, get updates on the status of your loan application, and for information on the location of local recovery centers in the areas affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
- The SBA is offering temporary positions at locations nationwide. There are job openings for lawyers, loan specialists, customer service representatives, construction analysts, administrative support staff and IT specialists. Go to the Hurricane Response jobs link for position descriptions and to submit your resume.
- There are many local contracting opportunities for small businesses able to provide fast service and needed products to those affected by a disaster. If you want do business with FEMA and your business is located in a disaster area, you could be eligible for the industry liaison program. FEMA also has a list of local contracting opportunities on its website.
There has been an impressive expansion of the support network since Harvey struck, from federal and state partners, voluntary relief organizations, and the public. The SBA has been on the ground from the beginning, and we will be there in the long term as well. We expect that the recovery from these storms will take years, and the SBA is working very closely with FEMA and with our partners at the state and local levels to help make that happen as expeditiously as possible. People want to get back into their homes and get their businesses back up and running. They want to get back to normal, even if normal takes on a new meaning. Small businesses are the glue of our communities, and getting them operating again will be key to helping affected areas recover.
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