Flooding Assistance and Business Opportunities

By /

October 10, 2015 Newsletter

Flooding Assistance and
FEMA Contracting Opportunity

 

The South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce wants you to know that if you or your business have been negatively impacted by the recent flooding or your business wants to be a part of the recovery effort, here is the information you need..

  1. How to apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance

  2. How to register for being a FEMA contractor

  3. How to apply for an SBA low-interest Disaster Loan

     

Applying For FEMA Disaster Assistance (from an article in The State)

1          Start the process as quickly as possible, either by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or visiting www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

2          An inspector will call to ask to look at the disaster damage. Applicants should meet the inspector at the property, if it is accessible, and the inspector will make an assessment of available assistance.

3          Do not wait for FEMA inspectors to arrive to start cleaning up. Documenting damage and losses can help with insurance, but FEMA’s concern is safe and sanitary living conditions for individuals and families returning to damaged homes and businesses.

4          If individuals do not feel safe in damaged homes, reach out to local non-profit agencies. FEMA’s phone line can also direct callers to local aid agencies.

More information can be found by calling 1-800-659-2955 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Loan applications can be done online at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
For more details, read full story here.

 

FEMA Disaster Relief Contracting

FEMA Needs Companies To Register For Disaster Relief Efforts ASAP!
There is an IMMEDIATE NEED for all types of business’s to assist with Remediation, Clean Up, Transportation, Logistics, Debris Removal, Electrical Service, Temporary Housing, Food Services and Parts including Generators, Renovations, Inspections and Engineering as well as Consulting for both Products and Services.

Once you are registered with FEMA and are in compliance, when they have a need for your services, a federal employee will send you an opportunity with the agency, there will be a scope of work or services needed you will have 48 hours in an emergency/disaster situation and 14 days in preparedness or non-emergency situation to evaluate the scope of work.

You will then have the option of deciding if you want to accept the opportunity and how much you plan to charge for it. There are no penalties if you decline.

If you are interested in the contract you will need to reply providing the agency with thorough details on how you plan to perform the services that are being requested.

For more information on how to become a registered vendor for FEMA’s disaster relief efforts, click here or call (866)-310-4257.

 

SBA Low Interest Disaster Loans

If you are located in a declared disaster area, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

What Types of Disaster Loans are Available?

  • Business Physical Disaster Loans– Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment.  Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)– Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.
  • Home Disaster Loans– Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles.

For more detail on SBA Disaster Loans, click here.

 

Small Business Cybersecurity

Join the South Carolina Small Business Chamber on Wednesday, October 28, as we partner with IT-oLogy for Trends 2015 as we explore the important topic of cyber security. This year’s topic is the overall digital transformation taking place in society (everything is becoming ‘digital’) and the associated security issues that come along with it. Small business owners will learn how to put together a cybersecurity plan for your business, how to manage potential issues, and much more.

For more information, click here. Event will be held at the IT-oLogy building at 1301 Gervais St., in Columbia. Register here.

 

Scroll to Top