NEWS RELEASE
Disaster Field
Operations Center East
Release
Date: Jan. 17, 2020 Contact:
Michael Lampton (404) 331-0333
Michael.Lampton@sba.gov
Release
Number: 20-158-A MS 16242
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Corrected:
SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Small Businesses in Mississippi
Affected
by Blue-Green Algae on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi
WASHINGTON – Low-interest Economic Injury
Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are
available to Mississippi small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives,
small aquaculture businesses and private nonprofit organizations affected by
the blue-green algae on the Gulf Coast of
Mississippi from June. 22 through Oct. 5, 2019.
SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza made the loans available in response
to a letter from Gov. Phil Bryant on Jan. 7, 2020, requesting a disaster
declaration by the SBA. The declaration
covers Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties and the adjacent counties of
George, Pearl River and Stone in Mississippi;
Mobile in Alabama; and St. Tammany Parish in
Louisiana.
“The SBA is strongly committed to providing the people of Mississippi with the most effective and
customer-focused response possible to assist small businesses with federal Economic
Injury Disaster Loans,” said Carranza. “Getting businesses and communities up
and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”
SBA’s Customer Service Representatives will be available at the
Disaster Loan Outreach Center to answer questions about the disaster loan
program and help individuals complete their applications.
The Centers are located in the following communities
and are open as indicated:
|
Opens:
Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 11
a.m. until 6 p.m.
Hours: Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sundays
Last Day: Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
|
|
Hancock
County
Storm Prep
Building Conference Room
18355 Highway 603
Kiln, MS
39556
|
Harrison
County
County
Office Complex, Sand Beach Office
842 Commerce St.
Gulfport, MS 39507
|
|
Jackson
County
2915
Canty Street, Main Entrance Lobby
Pascagoula,
MS 39567
| |
“The SBA can help affected small businesses
and nonprofit organizations overcome their economic losses by offering working
capital loans, but the help cannot start until they submit an SBA disaster loan
application to us,” said SBA’s Mississippi District Director Janita Stewart.
Eligible entities may qualify
for loans up to $2 million. The SBA
offers economic injury loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. The rates on theses loan are 4 percent for
small businesses and 2.75 percent for nonprofit organizations with terms up to
30 years.
Eligibility for these working
capital loans are based on the size and type of business and its financial
resources. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll,
accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster
not occurred. The loans are not intended
to replace lost sales or profits. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is
available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property
damage.
Applicants may apply online
using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov.
Businesses may also obtain
information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center
at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by
emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Loan applications can also be downloaded at www.sba.gov.
Completed applications should be returned to the center or mailed to: U.S.
Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925
Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The deadline to return economic injury applications is Oct.
16, 2020.
###
About the U.S. Small Business
Administration
The U.S.
Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a
reality. 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
or 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.