SBA - U.S. Small Business Administration
11/21/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/21/2024 11:02
SBA Ramps Up Helene Relief in Yancey County: New Business Recovery Center Now Open!
Disaster press release 25-142
SBA Ramps Up Helene Relief in Yancey County: New Business Recovery Center Now Open!
Published on November 21, 2024 by Disaster Field Operations Center East
ATLANTA - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today it will open a Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Yancey County on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. at the Old ABC Building, 677 US HWY 19E By-Pass in Burnsville. SBA is opening the additional BRC to assist North Carolina businesses with losses due to Tropical Storm Helene.
"SBA's BRCs are a cornerstone of our support for business owners," said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. "At these centers, business owners can meet face-to-face with specialists to apply for disaster loans and access a wide range of resources to guide them through their recovery."
Customer Service Representatives at the BRCs will assist business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents for existing applications, and provide updates on an application's status. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment at an SBA Disaster Recovery Center in advance at appointment.sba.gov. The BRCs will operate as indicated below.
Business Recovery Center (BRC)
Buncombe County
Asheville Chamber of Commerce
36 Montford Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Business Recovery Center (BRC)
Richmond County
CSRA Regional Commission
3626 Walton Way Ext , Suite 1
Augusta, GA 30909
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Business Recovery Center (BRC)
Mitchell County
Mayland Community College Small Business Center
67 Hotel Ave
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Business Recovery Center (BRC)
Richmond County
CSRA Regional Commission
3626 Walton Way Ext, Suite 1
Augusta, GA 30909
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Business Recovery Center (BRC)
Watauga County
Appalachian Enterprise Center
130 Poplar Grove Connector
Boone, NC 28607
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Portable Loan Outreach Center (PLOC)
McDowell County
Catawba Vale Business HUB
37 E Main St.
Old Fort, NC 28762
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Permanently Closes: Friday, Nov. 22 at 5 p.m.
Business Recovery Center (BRC)
Yancey County
Old ABC Building
677 E US Highway 19E Byp.
Burnsville, NC 28714
Opening: Thursday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m.
Hours: Monday - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.25% for nonprofit organizations, and 2.813% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition.
On Oct. 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, we remain committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.
With the changes to FEMA's Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover. FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition. Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.
Applicants may also call the SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Jan. 7, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 30, 2025.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Related programs: Disaster