The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that its Recovery Centers on Maui will continue to operate, providing assistance to small businesses, private nonprofit organizations, and residents affected by the wildfires that occurred between August 9 and September 30, 2023. This announcement follows FEMA's decision to end in-person staffing at the two public-facing recovery centers as of June 18.
SBA customer service representatives will remain available at the Recovery Centers in Kahului and Lahaina. They are prepared to answer questions and assist with disaster loan applications. Appointments are not required, but those who prefer can schedule an appointment online at appointment.sba.gov.
The open locations serving survivors include:
- Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), located at 70 E. Kaahumanu Ave., Unit D-1, Kahului, HI 96732, operating Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Maui Office of Recovery West at Lahaina Gateway, Unit 102-B (near Ace Hardware), located at 325 Keawe St., Lahaina, HI 96761, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA, stated: “SBA’s Business Recovery Centers have consistently proven their value to business owners following a disaster.” He emphasized that business owners could meet specialists who would guide them through the disaster loan application process and connect them with recovery resources.
Eligible businesses and nonprofits may apply for business physical disaster loans up to $2 million for repairing or replacing damaged or destroyed real estate and other assets. The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is also available for small businesses and private nonprofit organizations impacted by financial losses related to these disasters.
Homeowners and renters can apply for loans up to $100,000 for personal property replacement or repair. Homeowners may borrow up to $500,000 for primary residence repairs.
Interest rates are set as low as 4% for small businesses, 2.37% for nonprofits, and 2.50% for homeowners and renters with terms extending up to 30 years. Payments are deferred until one year after the first loan disbursement.
For more information on SBA disaster assistance or applying online visit sba.gov/disaster or contact SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.