SBA opens Honolulu disaster office

Advertiser Staff

Reacting to a request from Gov. Linda Lingle, the U.S. Small Business Administration yesterday paved the way for homeowners, renters and businesses in the state to apply for low-interest federal disaster loan assistance to help cover costs of damage caused by the heavy rains and flooding of Oct. 30.

Bruce Thompson, SBA regional chief in Sacramento, Calif., announced that the agency's Honolulu disaster office will open at 8 a.m. today in Suite 101 of the Manoa Innovation Center, 2800 Woodlawn Drive.

Andrew Poepoe, Hawai'i district director for the SBA, said loans of up to $200,000 will be available to repair or replace damaged or destroyed homes and businesses.

"Businesses of any size and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $1.5 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets," said Poepoe.

He said SBA also could provide loans to alleviate the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize damage of a similar kind from happening again.

Poepoe said Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up the $1.5 million would be available to small businesses.

Anyone unable to visit SBA's disaster office can request loan applications by writing to SBA at P.O. Box 419004, Sacramento, CA 95841-9004, or by calling (800) 488-5323 toll-free. Hearing-impaired individuals can call (916) 735-1683.

Applications for property damage must be returned to SBA by Jan. 18; for economic injury, by Aug. 16.

For more information visit the Web site for SBA at www.sba.gov/disaster.