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Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Portage Extends Operations to Friday, August 9
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Aug. 1, 2024
LANSING, MICH. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced July 26 it was extending operations at its Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Portage until August 9.
The Center, located at the Portage City Hall, 7900 S. Westnedge Ave., Portage, had been scheduled to close on July 26, but ongoing activity resulted in the decision to extend its service dates.
Michigan made history July 11 when Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) had granted a rapid administrative declaration of disaster following her request for Kalamazoo County following severe storms and tornados on May 7. ?
This was the first use of an SBA rapid declaration nationwide since the path became available, highlighting Michigan as a leading state in the nation for recovery efforts.? The Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act authorizes the SBA to remove burdensome requirements for declaring disasters in rural communities.
With a quicker approval process the SBA can provide low-interest loans where appropriate without having to await the full completion of the FEMA request process.
?The rapid administrative declaration allows affordable disaster loans and assistance to more quickly come to those who were impacted,? said Capt. Kevin Sweeney, deputy state director of Emergency Management and commander of the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. ?Homeowners, renters, business owners and nonprofits will have the resources to rebuild and thrive."
SBA?s Customer Service Representatives will continue to be available to answer questions, help apply for an SBA Disaster Loan, accept documents, and provide updates on an application?s status. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments may be made.?
For more information and to apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA?s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for 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 Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) at the Portage City Hall, 7900 S. Westnedge Ave., Portage is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is closed Sunday. The DLOC permanently closes Friday, Aug. 9 at 4 p.m.
About the Disaster: On May 7, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes struck the southwest part of the state. The storm system resulted in?roughly sixteen?injuries, and caused?significant damage?to homes, businesses, and the power grid. Hail ranging from?one?to?four?inches in diameter was also reported along with dangerous straight-line winds. Debris removal and other storm related clean-up lasted several weeks. Much of the damage was centered in Kalamazoo County.
For more information on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, visit www.michigan.gov/miready or follow MSP/EMHSD on X at @MichEMHS.
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The Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division is responsible for coordinating state and federal resources to assist local government in response and relief activities in the event of an emergency or disaster, as well as coordinating homeland security initiatives and various federal grants.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Lt. Charles Barker, MSP/EMHSD, 810-223-8466
Sharon V. Dooley, Public Affairs Specialist, Field Operations Center ? East (FOCE), U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience, (404) 331-0333, (Cell) (703) 895-1148, [email protected]
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