SBA Administrator Karen Mills announced today that SBA is making economic injury assistance available in 21 additional parishes for small businesses suffering financial losses following the April 20 Deepwater BP oil spill that shut down commercial and recreational fishing along the state’s southeast coast. With these additions, SBA economic injury loans are now available in 34 Louisiana parishes and seven Mississippi counties.
SBA amended its May 5 declaration following additional information provided by Gov. Bobby Jindal on May 6. The amended declaration now covers the primary parishes of Ascension, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne and Washington andthe neighboring Louisiana parishes of Acadia, Allen, Assumption, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Mary, Vermilion, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana. The declaration also covers seven neighboring Mississippi counties: Amite, Hancock, Marion, Pearl River, Pike, Walthall and Wilkinson.
“SBA is committed to taking every step we can to help small businesses deal with the financial challenges they are facing as a result of the Deepwater BP oil spill,” Mills said. “These businesses are the foundation of local economies in communities along the Gulf Coast and we know SBA’s economic injury loans can provide the working capital they need to drive economic growth and provide good-paying jobs.”
The declaration makes SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) available immediately for qualifying small businesses in the affected parishes. These loans offer small businesses working capital of up to $2 million, at an interest rate of 4 percent, with terms up to 30 years. The loans may be used by small businesses that are unable to obtain credit elsewhere to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the oil spill’s impact.
SBA’s economic injury loans can provide vital assistance to fishing and fishing-dependent businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. SBA encourages businesses to also file claims with BP. Borrowers may be required to use any claim payments to help repay these SBA loans.
Eligible small businesses include those engaged in shrimping, crabbing and oyster fishing in the 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, 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.
On Friday, May 7, SBA announced the opening of 10 Business Recovery Centers in six Louisiana parishes. SBA customer service representatives are available at each center to answer questions about the disaster loan program, issue loan applications and help them complete the forms. Counselors from Louisiana’s Small Business Development Centers are also available at each center and will provide services that 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 the right financial decisions.
The BRCs are open at the following locations, on the days and times indicated. No appointment is necessary.

JEFFERSON PARISH
Business Recovery Center
LSBDC Greater New Orleans Region
UNO Jefferson Center
3330 N. Causeway, Suite 422
Metairie, LA 70002
Mondays through Fridays,
8:30 am - 5 pm
JEFFERSON PARISH
Business Recovery Center
Grand Isle Community Center
The Rotary Room
3811 Highway 1
Grand Isle, LA 70358
Mondays through Fridays,
8 am - 5 pm
LAFOURCHE PARISH
Business Recovery Center
South Lafourche Public Library
16241 East Main Street
Cut Off, LA 70345
Mondays through Fridays,
9 am - 6 pm

ORLEANS PARISH
Business Recovery Center
Vietnamese Initiatives in Economic Training
4655 Michoud Boulevard, #D6, 1st Floor
New Orleans, LA 70129
Mondays through Fridays,
8 am - 5 pm
PLAQUEMINES PARISH
Business Recovery Center
St. Patrick’s Church
Family Life Center
28698 Highway 23
Port Sulphur, LA 70083
Mondays through Fridays,
9 am - 5 pm

PLAQUEMINES PARISH
Business Recovery Center
Venice Boat Harbor Office
Tiger Pass Road
Venice, LA 70091
Mondays through Fridays,
9 am - 6 pm


PLAQUEMINES PARISH
Business Recovery Center
at the Seedco Financial
Southeast Louisiana Fisheries Assistance Center
212 Avenue G
(near Belle Chasse Ferry)
Belle Chasse, LA 70037
Mondays through Fridays,
9 am – 5 pm

ST. BERNARD PARISH
Business Recovery Center
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company
1801 East Judge Perez Drive
Chalmette, LA 70043
Mondays through Fridays,
9 am - 4 pm
ST. BERNARD PARISH
Business Recovery Center
7801 Hopedale Highway
(near the Breton Sound Dock & Marina)
Hopedale, LA 70085
Mondays through Fridays,
9 am - 6 pm

ST. TAMMANY PARISH
Business Recovery Center
1330 Bayou Lane
Trailer 102
Corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Bayou Lane
Slidell, LA 70460
Mondays through Fridays,
8 am - 5 pm


Small Businesses unable to visit a center in person 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 by visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

They also may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
The deadline to apply for these loans is February 7, 2011.
In addition, small businesses in areas included in the declaration that are currently repaying an existing SBA disaster loan can request a deferment. For information on seeking a deferment, contact SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.
SBA also is encouraging private lenders to consider, in the areas included in the declaration, deferment relief on a case-by-case basis for small businesses with SBA-guaranteed 7(a) or 504 loans. Small businesses should contact their lender to request deferment consideration.





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