U.S. Small Business Administration Houston District Director Manuel R. Gonzalez announced Friday the transition of the Missouri City Disaster Recovery Center to an SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center.
The center will provide a wide range of services to homeowners, renters and businesses affected by Hurricane Ike.
“SBA customer service representatives will be on hand to issue loan applications, answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process, help individuals complete their application and close their disaster loans,” Gonzalez said.
The center will be open Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. until further notice. It will remain in the same location as the Disaster Recovery Center, suite 220 of the Wells Fargo Bank Building, 2440 Texas Parkway.
“So far, SBA has approved more than $521 million in low-interest disaster loans to Texas residents and businesses affected by the hurricane,” Gonzalez noted.
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace their damaged or destroyed primary residence. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.
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.
SBA can also lend additional funds to help homeowners and business owners with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
For small businesses and most private, nonprofit organizations, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business or nonprofit suffered any property damage.
Individuals and business owners unable to visit SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Center may obtain information by calling toll-free to 800-659-2955 or e-mailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Disaster victims should first register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency by calling 800-621-3362, or visit their website at www.{ema.gov.
The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is Feb. 6; the EIDL deadline is June 15.
