Business Recovery Center opens in tornado-ravaged Joplin

The following news release was issued this morning by the city of Joplin:

The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Missouri Southern State University Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) and the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce today announced the opening of a Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Joplin. The center is specifically designed to provide key financial services to businesses impacted by the tornado.


“Due to the severe property damage and economic loss this tornado inflicted on businesses in Joplin, we want to provide every available service to help get businesses back on their feet,” said SBA’s Kansas City Regional Administrator Pat Brown-Dixon. “This center will provide a single one-stop location for business owners to access a variety of specialized help,” she added.

The Business Recovery Center will open Thursday, May 26 at 9 am at the Newman Innovation Center. No appointment is necessary. The BRC will be open on the days and time indicated until further notice.

Newman Innovation Center

(adjacent to the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce)

320 E. 4th Street

Joplin, MO 64801

Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays

9 am to 6 pm

Tuesdays

11 am to 8 pm

Saturdays

9 am to 1 pm

According to Brown-Dixon, SBA customer service representatives will be available to meet individually with business owners to explain how a low interest SBA disaster loan can help finance their recovery. “They will issue loan applications, answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process, help each individual complete their application and close their approved loans,” she said. “You don’t need to wait on your insurance to settle or a contractor’s estimate before seeking SBA financial assistance,” Brown-Dixon added.

Rob O’Brian, President Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce said, “we are very pleased that the SBA has responded so swiftly to help meet the needs of our business community, and in particular small businesses, by working with the Chamber and the SBTDC to set up this Business Recovery Center. In addition, the Newman Innovation Center and chamber staff will be available to help businesses find additional resources that may be available to help in their recovery, including the Joplin Capital Corporation.”

According to Lisa Robinson, Director, Missouri Southern State University SBTDC, consultants will offer counseling to help these business owners re-establish their operations and plan for their future. “Our counselors will also offer help in reconstructing lost business records and offer assistance on updating or rewriting business plans,” she continued.

“The combination of financial assistance from the SBA and free, personalized counseling from the professionals at the SBTDC can be a powerful step in getting our business community back to normal,” added the Chamber’s O’Brian.

Businesses of any size and private, non-profit organizations may apply to SBA for low-interest disaster loans of up to $2 million to repair or replace damage to real estate, leasehold improvements, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. These loans cover uninsured losses or situations where the insurance coverage falls short of repair or replacement costs.

For small businesses and most private, non-profit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

The SBA also makes low interest disaster loans to homeowners and renters who sustained damage from the disaster.

Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling SBA toll-free at (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Hearing impaired individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is July 8, 2011. The deadline to return economic injury applications is February 9, 2012.

For more information, visit SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

SBA Field Operations Center - West, P.O. Box 419004, Sacramento, CA 95841