The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the opening of Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) to help businesses impacted by Hurricane Irma. SBA representatives at the Centers can provide information about disaster loans, answer questions and assist businesses in completing the SBA application.
The location of the BRC in our area is at The EpiCenter-Pinellas County Economic Development Center, 13805 58th Street North, Clearwater, FL 33760
Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Monday - Saturday
Closed: Sundays
“The SBA is committed to facilitating economic recovery in this disaster. We want area businesses to have a resource where they can meet individually with SBA representatives and find out how a low-interest disaster loan can help them recover,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta. The SBA offers low-interest, long-term disaster loans for physical damage and working capital. To be considered for this assistance, you need to apply by the deadline.
Additional information on the disaster loan program may be obtained by calling SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be returned to a recovery center or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
FEMA Teleregistration: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
SBA Customer Service Center: 1-800-659-2955
Hours:
8 a.m. - 8 p.m. (ET) Monday - Friday
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (ET) Saturday and Sunday
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 9, 2017. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 11, 2018. For more information about the SBA’s Disaster Loan Program, visit our website at www.sba.gov/disaster.
