Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce President Rob O'Brian will receive the U.S. Small Business Administration's Phoenix Award for his outstanding contribution to disaster recovery in his role as a public official in the aftermath of the tornado that devastated Joplin two years ago.
The award will be presented to O'Brian during a breakfast event held inWashington, D.C. June 21, during National Small Business Week. Since 1998, the SBA has presented the Phoenix Award to business owners, public officials and volunteers who displayed selflessness, ingenuity and tenacity in the aftermath of a disaster, while contributing to the rebuilding of their communities.
On May 22, 2011, the Joplin tornado destroyed or badly damaged more than 550 businesses. A huge portion of the city's tax base was reduced to rubble, and more than 5,000 jobs were in danger of being lost. After securing space for the SBA's Business Recovery Center (BRC), Rob directed his staff to canvass the hardest hit areas and make phone calls to find out what each business needed to recover. Within three weeks, O'Brian and his team had talked to more than 420 business owners, steering most of them to the SBA's BRC where they could apply for SBA disaster loans, and get counseling on how to build a more resilient business.
O'Brian maintained constant contact with government officials and private-sector partners who would ultimately help with Joplin's long-term rebuilding. The chamber also sponsored business recovery expos that covered topics including business plan development, overcoming post-disaster rebuilding challenges, and tips on starting a new business. Today, out of the 553 businesses at risk of closing after the tornado, 500 of those companies are operating. More than 90 percent of the jobs impacted by the storm remain in place. And remarkably, 40 new businesses have opened.
"The Phoenix Award is an acknowledgment of heroic work and a recognition of the contributions made to disaster recovery," said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills. "Rob O'Brian displayed tremendous courage and resourcefulness in the aftermath of the Joplin tornado, and he exemplifies the spirit one must have to rebuild after a disaster like this."
The Phoenix Awards will be presented June 21, 2013. Events on the schedule will be available for viewing through SBA's free, live webcasting, which will be accessible at www.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek. Interested parties can register online at the same site, where additional information (updated weekly) is available regarding registration, awards ceremonies, small business forums and educational and matchmaking sessions.
Additional information on National Small Business Week, including the schedule and registration information, is available atwww.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek.
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