10 centers in six parishes throughout
Southeast Louisiana now open
This week, Louisiana Economic Development and the U.S. Small
Business Administration opened Business Recovery Centers in six
southeastern Louisiana parishes. Owners of small businesses who
have been affected financially by the Deepwater Horizon BP Oil
Spill can visit the centers to speak with SBA and Louisiana Small
Business Development Center Network, or LSBDC, representatives
about their options regarding the SBA Economic Injury Disaster
Loan, or EIDL, program.
In response to a request from Gov. Bobby Jindal, SBA
Administrator Karen Mills activated the loan program in 34
Louisiana parishes and seven counties in Mississippi.
At each center, LSBDC counselors and SBA customer service
representatives are available for free, one-on-one consultations.
Services include assistance with SBA's EIDL program and loan
packaging support, a review of financial options for small
businesses and other traditional counseling assistance. The
deadline to apply for EIDL loans is Monday, Feb. 7, 2011.
"I encourage all small business owners potentially impacted by
the oil spill to visit these centers," said LED Secretary Stephen
Moret. "The counselors and representatives are on hand to provide
assistance with the EIDL loan application process and determine the
best options for small businesses in the impacted areas of South
Louisiana."
The centers are scheduled to be open Mondays through Fridays at
the following locations and times indicated. No appointment is
necessary, and all services are free.
JEFFERSON PARISH
LSBDC Greater New Orleans Region
UNO Jefferson Center
3330 N. Causeway, Suite 422
Metairie, LA 70002
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Grand Isle Community Center
The Rotary Room
3811 Highway 1
Grand Isle, LA 70358
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
PLAQUEMINES PARISH
St. Patrick's Church
Family Life Center
28698 Highway 23
Port Sulphur, LA 70083
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Venice Boat Harbor Office
Tiger Pass Road
Venice, LA 70091
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
SEEDCO Financial Southeast Louisiana Fisheries Assistance
Center
212 Avenue G
Belle Chasse, LA 70037
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ST. BERNARD PARISH
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Co.
1801 East Judge Perez Drive
Chalmette, LA 70043
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Business Recovery Center
7801 Hopedale Highway
Hopedale, LA 70085
9 a.m. to 6 p.m
ST. TAMMANY PARISH
Business Recovery Center
1330 Bayou Lane
Trailer 102
Slidell, LA 70460
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
LAFOURCHE PARISH
South Lafourche Public Library
16241 East Main St.
Cut Off, LA 70345
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
ORLEANS PARISH
Business Recovery Center
4375 Michoud Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70129
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Eligible small businesses include those engaged in shrimping,
crabbing and oyster fishing in waters affected by the closure
(employees or crew members are not small businesses and are not
eligible); small businesses dependent on the catching or sale of
shrimp, crabs and oysters and suppliers of fishing gear and fuel;
docks, boatyards, processors, wholesalers, shippers, retailers and
other small businesses dependent on revenue from fishing,
recreational and sports-fishing small businesses, and coastal small
businesses. For business owners who are unable to visit a center,
they may obtain loan information and application forms by calling
SBA's Customer Service Center at 800.659.2955 or 800.877.8339 for
the hearing impaired, e-mailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or
visiting SBA's website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. They
may also apply online using the electronic loan application on
SBA's website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
EIDL loans were activated in these 34 parishes: Acadia, Allen,
Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana,
Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis,
Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe
Coupee, Rapides, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James,
St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St.
Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Washington, West Baton
Rouge and West Feliciana parishes. The loans were also activated in
these seven counties in Mississippi: Amite, Hancock, Marion, Pearl
River, Pike, Walthall and Wilkinson.
