SBA - U.S. Small Business Administration
12/23/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/23/2024 17:19
SBA’s Business Recovery Center in Unicoi County to Close for the Holidays
Disaster press release 25-229
SBA's Business Recovery Center in Unicoi County to Close for the Holidays
Published on December 23, 2024 by Disaster Field Operations Center East
ATLANTA- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that the Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Erwin, will be temporary closed on Dec. 24 - 25, Dec. 31, and Jan. 1 in observance of the Holidays.
"When disasters strike, our Business Recovery Centers are key to helping business owners and residents get back on their feet," said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. "At these centers, people can connect directly with our specialists to apply for disaster loans and learn about the full range of programs available to rebuild and move forward in their recovery journey."
SBA's Customer Service Representatives are available at the BRC to answer questions, assist business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application's status. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment at an SBA Disaster Recovery Center at appointment.sba.gov. The center will operate as listed below.
SBA Business Recovery Center (BRC)
Unicoi County
Unicoi Chamber of Commerce
100 S Main Ave.
Erwin, TN 37650
Hours: Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Holiday Closure: Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 24 - 25, and Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 31- Jan. 1.
SBA's disaster loan program has been replenished through the American Relief Act of 2025, signed into law by President Biden on December 21, 2024.
The SBA encourages applicants to submit their loan applications promptly. Applications will be prioritized in the order they are received, and the SBA remains committed to processing them as efficiently as possible.
With the changes to FEMA's Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover. FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition. Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.
Applicants may call the SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to [email protected] 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.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Jan. 7, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 2, 2025.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Related programs: Disaster