LED Urges Businesses To Seek Financial Assistance

Long after the flood waters of the past week's historic rainfall have receded their impact will still be felt. Many small businesses were impacted in several ways by the rising water.

For many, there was damage that will have to be repaired before they can open their doors to customers. Then comes the ability of the customers to get to the business and actually be able to purchase the goods and services the business offers.

The Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development, Don Pierson, is urging small businesses in particular to take advantage of disaster recovery assistance that is being made available on the state and federal level.

OpportunityLouisiana.com, there’s a page there that will take you to impacted Louisiana businesses, or you can call 1 (800) 621-FEMA.

In his comments to the Louisiana Radio Network Pierson suggested that the LED website as well as the DOTD website will provide updated information that business owners would find quite helpful too.

The United States Small Business Administration is also pitching in to make sure that smaller enterprises have an opportunity to get back on their feet quickly.

Making low interest loans available up to two million dollars based on certain qualifications will be a big step in the right direction to get the capital available for these small businesses.

Pierson says keeping small business in business through this disaster is the main goal of all of these efforts.

It supports the families and all the goods and services that are needed by the workers and their families. The retail is important to us, all the parts of supply and services are important to us.

Statistics show that over 9-thousand Louisiana businesses were affected by the past week's flooding.