SBA Administrator offers economic aid to Louisiana small businesses affected by oil spill

May 7th, 2010 - 12:29 am ICT by BNO News  

WASHINGTON D.C. (BNO NEWS) – Small Business Administration will offer low-interest loans to Louisiana small businesses which suffered financial losses due to the April 20 oil spill, SBA Administrator Karen Mills announced on Thursday.

The Deepwater BP oil spill shut down commercial and recreational fishing along Louisiana’s southeast Gulf coast. Louisiana Governor Jindal requested economic assistance on May 4. Mills responded by signing the declaration making SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) available for qualifying businesses.

“With the region still recovering from previous devastation and the national recession of the last couple years, it’s critical that we take every step we can to provide small businesses with resources to make it through this latest crisis so they can continue to drive local economic growth and provide good-paying jobs,” Mills said.

The SBA is offering loans of up to $2 million at an interest rate of 4 percent with terms up to 30 years. These loans will provide vital aid to fishing and fishing-related businesses. Qualifying businesses include small businesses engaged in shrimping, crabbing and oyster fishing in the waters affected by the closure; suppliers of fishing gear and fuel; docks, boatyards, processors, wholesalers, shippers, retailers and other small businesses dependent on revenue from fishing.

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