Help Available for Local Businesses

June 4, 2010

As the black tide continues to rise in the Gulf, several organizations are reaching out to offer helping hands by keeping the public informed, providing cleanup assistance and providing access to resources for the businesses and fishermen affected by this disaster. Louisiana’s seafood is a billion dollar industry that accounts for more than 30 percent of the nation’s seafood production.

As a result of the oil leaking in the Gulf, our coast, the health of our wetlands and the very livelihood of Louisiana’s fishermen, shrimpers and oystermen are all at risk.

To that end, the Small Business Administration [SBA] has opened several Business Recovery Centers [BRC] at various points throughout the Gulf Coast to assist businesses affected by the oil spill. In addition to the SBA, these centers are being staffed by the Louisiana Small Business Development Center, which is assisting businesses with strategies, loan deferments, debt restructuring, and more.

If your business has been affected, be sure to keep all information and documents gathered during this recovery process and be encouraged to seek any information available on deferment on current SBA loans or other options. The centers are open Monday through Friday.

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.

Businesses may also apply online using the electronic loan application on SBA’s website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Town Hall meetings to answer questions from business owners will take place this week. Check staylocal.org for details.