BATON ROUGE - The U.S. Small Business Administration and Louisiana Economic Development encourage flood-impacted businesses to visit any of the five Business Recovery Centers established after severe weather and flooding struck the state in March.

The centers opened Mar. 23 in Bossier, Ouachita, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes. The Business Recovery Centers and other SBA sites in the state have approved 223 loans totaling more than $11 million in disaster recovery assistance.

Businesses of any size 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. The loans cover losses that are not fully covered by insurance.

SBA customer service representatives are available at each recovery center to meet with business owners and explain how an SBA disaster loan can help finance their recovery. Louisiana Small Business Development Center consultants will also provide counseling to help small business owners with recovery issues.

“No appointment is necessary, and all services are provided free of charge. We can answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each individual complete their application,” SBA Louisiana District Director Mike Ricks said.

Business Recovery Centers are open at the times and locations below:

Monroe (Ouachita Parish)
University of Louisiana at Monroe
University Advancement Building
3601 DeSiard Street
Monroe, LA 71209
Mondays through Fridays: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bossier City (Bossier Parish)
Knights of Columbus
5400 E. Texas Street
Bossier City, LA 71111
Mondays and Tuesdays: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesdays: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Thursdays and Fridays: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Hammond (Tangipahoa Parish)
Hammond Chamber of Commerce
400 NW Railroad Avenue
Hammond, LA 70401
Mondays through Fridays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Covington (St. Tammany Parish)
Greater Covington Center
317 North Jefferson Avenue
Covington, LA 70433
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bogalusa (Washington Parish)
YMCA
411 Avenue B
Bogalusa, LA 70427
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Business owners may also apply online using SBA’s at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela or at any Disaster Recovery Center in Louisiana.

Owners can also call (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. For more disaster assistance information, or to download applications, visitwww.sba.gov/disaster.