SLU SBDC to work with SBA on area business recovery
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s Small Business Development Center, the
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Louisiana Department of Economic
Development announced the opening of Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) to provide a
wide range of services to businesses impacted by recent severe storms, tornados and
flooding.
The centers will open beginning Wednesday, March 23.
“The Small Business Development Center at Southeastern, along with local chambers
of commerce, parish government and Tangipahoa Economic Development, will offer disaster
relief assistance for business owners,” said Director of the Southeastern Small Business
Development Center Bill Joubert. “If your business is looking to apply for federal
disaster aid, or if owners have general questions about the application process, contact
Southeastern’s SBDC at 985-549-3831 or lsbdc.slu@lsbdc.org.”
Joubert said the centers 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. No appointment is necessary, and all services
are provided free of charge.
BRC openings and locations include the following:
Tangipahoa Parish, Greater Hammond Chamber of Commerce, 400 NW Railroad Ave.,
Hammond, La. 70401, opens at 9 a.m., Wednesday, March 23, Mondays – Fridays, 9 a.m.
- 4 p.m., center will not be open Friday, March 25;
St. Tammany Parish, Greater Covington Center, 317 North Jefferson Ave., Covington,
La., 70433, opens at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 23, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 9 a.m.
– 4 p.m., center will not be open Friday, March 25;
Washington Parish, the YMCA, 411 Avenue B, Bogalusa, La. 70427, opens at 9 a.m.
Thursday, March 24, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
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.
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.
