SBA to Close the Deepwater BP Oil Spill Center in Orange Beach, Alabama

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that due to a steady decrease of activity, the Business Recovery Center established in Orange Beach, to assist those affected by the Deepwater BP Oil Spill will close Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 5 p.m. However, small businesses can still contact SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800- 659- 2955 for information on the low-interest disaster loans.

“I encourage anyone who has not completed their disaster loan application to visit the Center before it closes”

“I encourage anyone who has not completed their disaster loan application to visit the Center before it closes,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta. “After the Center closes, we will still be available to help any business owner requiring assistance with their application or to answer questions. Just visit one of our other Centers or call our toll free number,” Skaggs added.

The Center set to close is located in Baldwin County at the City of Orange Beach Medical Arts Building, 4223 Orange Beach Blvd, Suite B, Orange Beach, AL 36561.

The SBA will have two remaining Business Recovery Centers in Alabama. In Baldwin County, a Center will remain at the Business Support Center (BSC), Faulkner State Community College, Gulf Coast Campus, 3301 Gulf Shores Pkwy., Room 119, Gulf Shores, AL 36542. In Mobile County, a Center will remain at the Bayou LaBatre Community Center, 12745 Padgett Switch Road, Irvington, AL 36544.

The hours of operations at all Centers are weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The SBA is offering Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to small businesses affected by the Deepwater BP Oil Spill. Anyone with an existing SBA disaster loan that is experiencing economic hardship due to the oil spill can request a loan deferment. These loans and loan deferments can provide vital financial assistance to help eligible entities overcome the loss of revenue they are experiencing.

Interest rates on EIDLs are 3 percent for non-profit organizations and 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Business owners unable to visit one of the Centers may obtain applications and program information by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT or by sending an e-mail to [e-mail]. Applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be returned to one of the Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Business owners may apply for disaster loans on SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

The deadline to return economic injury applications is February 14, 2011.

For more information about the SBA’s Disaster Loan Programs, visit our website at www.sba.gov.

Release Number: 10-731, AL 12174