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SBA issued more than $9 million in loans for Gita survivors

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fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The US Small Business Administration has issued more than $9 million in small interest loans to those in American Samoa impacted by Tropical Storm Gita earlier this year. And SBA reminds local residents that its Disaster Loan Outreach Center officially closes at the end of business today.

As of yesterday morning SBA had approved 604 disaster loans for a total of $9.6 million, said SBA public information officer Yolanda Stokes from California, responding to Samoa News inquiries.

There are many local residents who didn’t qualify for US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to repair their homes following Gita that are thankful to SBA for the chance to get federal assistance even though it’s through loans, because the loans are low interest and can be repaid over a long period of time. Some businesses also qualified and repairs are happening.

Meanwhile, Stokes, on behalf SBA, yesterday issued a reminder that the SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the Veterans Affairs building at Tafuna will come to a close at 4p.m. today, Friday.

SBA customer service representatives are available at the center today to meet with businesses and residents to answer their questions, explain SBA’s disaster loan program and close their approved disaster loans.

Another SBA reminder: small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size impacted by the storm still have until Dec. 3, 2018, to apply for an economic injury disaster loan to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster.

Business owners may apply online using SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

To receive additional disaster assistance information, visit SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster.