SBA Expands Support for Los Angeles Communities Impacted by Wildfires

WASHINGTON - Los Angeles communities continue the long recovery from devastating wildfires and straight-line winds, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) remains on the ground to assist survivors who have already applied for federal disaster assistance and need additional help navigating the process.

Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 27, SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) in Altadena and Pacific Palisades are providing in-person support for homeowners, renters, small businesses, and private nonprofit organizations with existing SBA disaster loan applications. SBA customer service representatives are available to help applicants/borrowers understand next steps in their loan process.

Those who prefer to schedule an in-person appointment in advance can do so at appointment.sba.gov.

The centers' hours of operation are as follows:

The application filing deadline for this disaster has passed. These centers are focused on assisting survivors who have already applied and require additional guidance to complete or move their application forward. On a case-by-case basis, new applications may be accepted due to extraordinary circumstances.

"Recovery can be complex, and many survivors need follow-up support after submitting an application," said Chris Stallings, associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. "Our teams are here in the community to help survivors work through outstanding questions, disbursements, provide missing information, and better understand their options as they continue recovery."

Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.

For more information, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [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.

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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, 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 https://www.sba.gov.