Business Recovery Center now opened at Southeastern's Livingston Parish Literacy and Technology Center
Thursday, August 18, 2016
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s Livingston Parish Literacy and Technology
Center (LPLTC) will house the first recovery center to open in Livingston Parish in
the aftermath of historic flooding throughout the region.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Louisiana Department of Economic
Development (LED) and Louisiana Small Business Development Centers (LSBDCs) announced
the opening of the Walker Business Recovery Center to provide a wide range of services
to businesses impacted by the recent severe storms and flooding.
The center will operate from Room 101 in the LPLTC’s Clausen Family Building,
located at 9261 Florida Blvd. It will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. No appointment is necessary, and all services are provided free of charge.
“Due to the severe property damage and economic losses these storms and floods
inflicted on businesses in Louisiana, we want to provide every available service to
help get them back on their feet,” said SBA’s Louisiana District Director Michael
Ricks. “The center will provide a one-stop location for businesses to access a variety
of specialized help. Specialists from SBA and LSBDC will be available to meet individually
with each business owner.”
SBA representatives will meet with each business owner to explain how an SBA
disaster loan can help finance their recovery, Ricks added. They will answer questions
about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each business
owner complete an application.
According to LSBDC State Director Rande Kessler, LSBDC consultants at the center
will provide counseling 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 the future. Services include assessing business economic injury, evaluating the
business’s strength, cash flow projections and, most importantly, a review of all
options to ensure each business makes decisions that are appropriate for its situation.
“They will also provide program information, answer questions and help businesses
apply for this much needed financial help,” Kessler said.
LED Secretary Don Pierson, Director Ricks and Director Kessler want to ensure
impacted businesses secure the financial assistance they need to resume normal operations.
“LED works in partnership with SBA and our LSBDCs,” Pierson said. “This highly
trained and experienced team of consultants will be available to provide business
consulting services designed to help these business owners re-establish their operations
and plan for their future.”
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 (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by
the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered
any property damage.
Business owners may also apply online using SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela or get help from SBA representatives at any Disaster Recovery Center in Louisiana.
Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer
Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 877-8339.
For more disaster assistance information or to download applications, visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing
and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
