Small Business Administration Resources

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has developed disaster assistance programs to help people recover from disasters and rebuild their lives by providing affordable, timely and accessible financial assistance to homeowners, renters and businesses. Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace the primary residence. Loans of up to $40,000 are available to renters and homeowners to cover losses to personal property like clothing, appliances and furniture. The interest rate is 2.68 percent with 30 year terms and the loans are aimed at covering losses not fully covered by insurance.

Three loan programs available are:

• Home Disaster Loans – for homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster damages including personal property losses.
• Business Physical Disaster Loans – to repair or replace disaster damages to property owned by businesses of all sizes. Non-profit organizations are also eligible.
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans – for working capital to small businesses and cooperatives to assist them through the recovery period.

To qualify for any kind of federal assistance, residents and business owners in the disaster areas must contact FEMA first at 1-800-621-FEMA. General information on SBA's disaster loan program can be found by calling 1-800-659-2955 or visiting http://www.sba.gov/disaster. A fact sheet explaining the Small Business Administration types of assistance for Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, credit requirements, interest rates and eligibility requirements is available at: http://www.sba.gov/disaster_recov/FACTSHEET_HurricanesKatrinaRitaLATX.pdf.

Another valuable resource for affected citizens is a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) which is also on the posted on the website at: http://www.sba.gov/disaster_recov/basics/faqs.html

The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP) announced that two more Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are open. There are now 27 centers available in Louisiana for the disaster needs of the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. All centers are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week until further notice. These centers are located at:

Disaster Recovery Centers by Parish:

Ascension Parish 13192 Airline Highway Gonzales, La. 70737 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Avoyelles Parish 635 East Tunica Drive Marksville, La. 71351 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Bossier and Caddo Parishes Old Summergrove Baptist Church 2820 Summer Grove Drive Shreveport, La. 71118 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. East Baton Rouge Parish 1 & 2 Maritime Place 101 France Street Baton Rouge, La. 70802 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Iberia Parish 601 West Admiral Doyle Drive New Iberia, La. 70560 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Iberville Parish Iberville Parish Library 24605 J. Gerald Barrett Blvd. Plaquemine, La. 70764 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Jefferson Parish Westside Shopping Center West Bank Expressway, Unit 13 Gretna, La. 70053 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m Lafayette Parish Harvest Church International 111 Liberty Ave. Lafayette, La. 70508 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Lafourche Parish Jake's Department Store 513 St. Mary Street Thibodaux, La. 70301 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Lafourche Parish 4560 US Highway 1 Raceland, La. 70394 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Livingston Parish (Denham Springs) Old Jamboree Building 9554 US Highway 190 Walker , La. 70 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Orleans Parish Landry High School Whitney Ave. & LaMarque Street Algiers , La Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Plaquemines Parish Belle Chasse Auditorium 8398 Highway 23 Belle Chasse, La. 70037 Hours: 8 a. m. to 6 p. m. due to local curfew Point Coupee Parish Scott Civic Center 1200 Major Parkway New Roads, La. 70760 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m.

Ouachita Parish Civic Center Convention Hall 401 Lea Joyner Memorial Expwy Monroe, La. 71210 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Rapides Parish Old Office Max Bldg. 2255 Macarthur Alexandria, La. 71301 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. St. Charles Parish Bingo Hall 13415 Hwy 90 Boutte, La. 70039 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. St. James Parish Lions Club Bldg. 29126 Health Unit St. Vacherie, La. 70090 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. St. John the Baptist Parish 160 Belle Terre La Place, La. 70068 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. St. Tammany Parish John Slidell Municipal Park Recreation Center 105 Robert Road Slidell, La. 70458 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. St. Tammany Parish La-Z Boy Center 31-A Park Place Covington , La. 70433 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Tangipahoa Parish Old Winn Dixie Bldg. 727 West Oak Amite , La. 70422 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Terrebonne Parish 805 Barrow Street Houma , La. 70360 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Vermilion Parish 407 Charity Street Abbeville , La. 70510 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Washington Parish Old Barnes Furniture Building 539 Avenue V Bogalusa, La. 70427 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Washington Parish Hillcrest Baptist Church 201 East Washington Street Franklinton, La. 70438 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m. Webster Parish Old Wal-Mart Store 1100 Homer Rd. Minden, La. 71055 Hours: 9 a. m. to 7 p. m.

For the latest news on assistance and deadlines by Louisiana region, go to: http://www.sba.gov/gopher/Disnews/disnla.html

Back to Top

For questions, comments or suggestions, please contact the Web Coordinator.