SBA opens third disaster loan outreach center in Texas Panhandle

From Staff Reports
·3 min read

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened a third location for a disaster loan outreach center in the Texas Panhandle in wake of the recent wildfires.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced last week that SBA approved his request for disaster declarations in communities affected by wildfires, including the counties of Armstrong, Carson, Donley, Gray, Hansford, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, and Wheeler.

Wednesday's opening of the third SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center, located at the Celebration Family Church in Fritch, follows the opening of two centers in Borger and Canadian after the SBA assistance was approved.

A home destroyed by the Windy Deuce Fire is pictured Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, along State Highway 136 between Fritch and Borger in the Texas Panhandle.
A home destroyed by the Windy Deuce Fire is pictured Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, along State Highway 136 between Fritch and Borger in the Texas Panhandle.

The deadline to apply for declarations for property damage is May 13.

“SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the following center to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each individual complete their electronic loan application,” Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at SBA, said in a news release.

SBA representatives continue to be available to meet with businesses and residents to answer their questions, explain SBA’s disaster loan program and close their approved disaster loans. No appointment is necessary, and the centers are operating on the following schedules:

Hutchinson County

Disaster Loan Outreach Center, Celebration Family Church, West Room - 811 E. Broadway St., Fritch, TX 79036. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays.

Disaster Loan Outreach Center, Dome Civic & Convention Center, Eddie Edwards Room - 1113 Bulldog Blvd., Borger, TX 79007. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays.

Hemphill County

Disaster Loan Outreach Center, Hemphill County Courthouse, Room 202 - 400 Main St., Canadian, TX 79014. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays.

According to the SBA news release, "businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize disaster damage from occurring in the future."

In addition, disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.

SBA notes for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, it offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. "Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage," SBA said. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Dec. 13.

Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov 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.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: SBA opens disaster loan outreach center in Fritch for wildfire aid