Following a destructive blaze that ripped through an apartment complex in the Spring Branch neighborhood last month, Governor Greg Abbott has declared that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will now be stepping in to support affected Texans. Abbott's announcement, which arrived yesterday, confirms the acceptance of his request for a disaster declaration. Now with the SBA's endorsement, residents and business owners facing the aftermath will have the opportunity to apply for low-interest loans to help in the rebuilding process.
"Texans affected by the Spring Branch neighborhood apartment complex fire will now have access to additional resources needed to recover," Governor Abbott stated. Various loan options, such as Home Disaster Loans, Business Physical Disaster Loans, and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, are now available for those who are eligible and suffered damage during the fire. The declaration was requested by Governor Abbott on September 9, after damages were found to meet the federally required thresholds, according to Governor Abbott's official statement.
For those intending to apply, the process has been made accessible online at sba.gov/disaster. Moreover, the SBA’s Customer Service Center can be contacted at (800) 659-2955 for additional information or assistance over email at [email protected]. Furthermore, those with hearing or speech impairments can tap into telecommunications relay services by dialing 7-1-1. Applications that are completed can also be sent via mail to the U.S. Small Business Administration, headquartered at 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76155.
In a move to facilitate the application process for community members, SBA representatives are setting up a Disaster Loan Outreach Center at 1625 Blalock Road, Houston, TX 77080, beginning Thursday, September 18. The center will operate weekdays from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and on Saturdays, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Texans in need can stop by to get help with applications, receive thorough explanations of the loan process, and have their questions answered about the disaster loan programs, according to a statement from the governor's office.
