SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center to open locally to assist businesses affected by red tide

SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center to open locally to assist businesses affected by red tide
Posted on 09/05/2018
MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Sept. 5, 2018) – Manatee County Government and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that a SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center will to assist businesses that have been affected by red tide. The center will open at the Manatee County Island Branch Library this Friday.

SBA representatives will be on hand to provide information about disaster loans, answer questions and assist businesses in completing the SBA application. The County’s Economic Development team and local economic development and Chamber of Commerce partners will also be on hand to provide information and resources to assist and to help businesses document financial losses at Floridadisaster.biz.

"Reporting injury to business, no matter how small, assists the State of Florida in requesting disaster declarations from the Federal Government," said Karen Stewart, Manatee County Economic Development Official. "This information helps government officials determine the impact to the community and helps in determining types of federal assistance that may be offered in the future."

The temporary SBA Center at the Island Branch Library will operate until further notice. No appointments are necessary. The library is located at 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach.

On its first day of operation, the center will open at 11 a.m. but other weekday hours in the future will be Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The center will also be open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To receive additional disaster assistance information, visit SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

For additional information pertaining to the SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center or the Florida SBDC Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, call (941) 749-3029.

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.