A report earlier this week stated that Small Business Administration (SBA) officials would remain on hand at the Advance Knights of Columbus Hall where they, along with FEMA representatives, have been available for disaster assistance following the March floods. This report was in error and it should be noted that SBA officials, along with FEMA, will not be available at the Advance location after the close of business this Saturday, April 25.

On Monday morning, April 28, however, three Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) which opened earlier this month to help those affected by flooding in mid-March will convert to Disaster Loan Outreach Centers operated by U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

The Disaster Recovery Centers were opened by FEMA and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to help those affected by the March flooding. The DRCs close after serving that clientele; the SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers focus on helping people complete applications for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA.

A Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) will open on Monday, April 28 at 502 E. W. Main St., Suite E in Jackson and will be open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Two other DLOCs will also open on Monday. They will be housed at Highway 34 East in Piedmont in Wayne County and at the United Methodist Church at 1516 W. St. Louis St. in Pacific.

SBA loans are the primary source of long-term recovery assistance. Completing the SBA loan application is also necessary to be considered for some other forms of disaster assistance, it was noted.