Scalise: SBA Offers Economic Assistance to Louisiana Small Businesses in Aftermath of BP Oil Spill

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Scalise today announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has made Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) available to small businesses in Louisiana affected by the BP oil spill.  This includes those businesses that operate on revenue from fishing, recreational and sports fishing and coastal business.  SBA is also providing loan deferments to fishermen and others affected who are still paying back loans taken out after Hurricane Katrina.

 “Today’s action by SBA will provide much needed relief to the fishermen whose livelihoods have been impacted by the closure of the fisheries,” Scalise said.  “Many of these fishermen are still repaying loans from Katrina and don’t currently have the ability to earn a living as a result of the BP oil spill.  They shouldn’t have to worry about being in default of a loan because this disaster has impacted their fishing beds.”

The EIDL loans are available for businesses in the following Parishes: Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. Tammany, Assumption, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne and Washington. 

The deadline to apply for an EIDL loan is February 7, 2011.  Those interested in applying can obtain forms by calling the SBA at (800) 659-2955, e-mailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

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Contact: Stephen Bell
202-226-9113