SBA disaster loan outreach center to close on Saipan

The U.S. Small Business Administration’ Saipan Disaster Loan Outreach Center will have its last day on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at 6pm, and will be permanently closed after that.

The SBA center is located at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center on Beach Road, in Susupe. It is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 9am-6pm; Saturday, March 30, 9am-6pm; and closes 6pm Saturday, March 30.

SBA opened the center to provide personalized assistance to Rota, Saipan, Tinian, and the Northern Islands businesses and residents who were affected by the Typhoon Mangkhut that occurred Sept. 10-11, 2018, and Super Typhoon Yutu that occurred Oct. 24-26, 2018.

“Until the Saipan center closes, SBA customer service representatives will continue to be available to meet with businesses and residents to answer their questions about SBA’s disaster loan program and close their approved disaster loans,” said Tanya N. Garfield, director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West.

Businesses and residents can still meet with SBA representatives until Saturday. No appointment is necessary.

Although the deadline to apply for a loan for property damage has passed, small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size still have until July 1, 2019, to apply for an economic injury disaster loan to help meet working capital needs caused by Typhoon Mangkhut. Also, even though the deadline to apply for a loan for property damage has passed for Super Typhoon Yutu, small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size still have until July 26, 2019, to apply for an economic injury disaster loan to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage. Business owners may apply online using SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Interest rates are 3.675 percent for businesses and 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

To receive additional disaster assistance information, visit SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX  76155. (PR)