Nydia M. Velázquez

Representing New York's 12^th Congressional District

Ranking Democrat, House Small Business Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Wendy Belzer, James Snyder (202) 225-2361

November 20, 2001

N.Y.C. RELIEF RESOURCES UPDATE
Relief information available at six sites in Manhattan; FEMA opens new DASC at Pier 94; FEMA moves Piers 90/92 to 141 Worth St.

WASHINGTON - The Federal Emergency Management Agency opened a new Disaster Assistance Service Center with Small Business Administration workers at Pier 94 on Manhattan's lower west side. FEMA has also moved from Pier 90/92 to SBA's location at 141 Worth St.

The Small Business Administration now has workers at six sites open in Manhattan to provide disaster relief information, including one in Chinatown. Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese language workers are available to assist at the Chinatown site. Spanish language workers are available as necessary at all sites. Other languages available are Croatian and Arabic. As needed, Hindi, Vietnamese, German, French, Korean and Japanese language workers are available to assist applicants.

Two sites in and near New York's 12th District are currently taking disaster loan applications and providing information:
· Chinatown Community Center, 62 Mott St., Manhattan (1/2 block south of Canal St., Mon-Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Canal St. M.T.A.: Q, W J, M, 4, 5, 6; Chinese language services available)
· N.Y. Business Assistance Center, Local Development Corp. of East N.Y., 80 Jamaica Ave., Brooklyn; 1-718-385-6700 ext.108, Linda Hurwitz (Mon.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-
5 p.m., Sat. by appt.; A-C @ Broadway; C Liberty; L, Z @ Eastern Pkwy.; J @ Alabama Ave. M.T.A.)

SBA has workers at four other sites in Manhattan:
· Empire State Development Business Information Center, 633 Third Ave., 32nd floor, Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Grand Central Sta. M.T.A.)
· N.Y.C. Economic Development Center, 80 Pine St. (corner of Maiden Lane, Mon.-Fri.
9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Fulton St.-Broadway-Nassau M.T.A.)
· Battery Park Community Room, 21 South End Ave. (Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-
3 p.m.; 4-5 @ Wall St. or Bowling Green; J-M Broad St. M.T.A.)
· FEMA Disaster Assistance Service Center at Pier 94, West 54th St. at 12th Ave.
(Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; C, E @ W. 50th St. M.T.A.)

In addition, SBA is offering relief information at four Small Business Development Centers in New Jersey and 23 SBDCs, Women's Business Centers, and One-Stop Capital Shops throughout the New York City and Long Island metropolitan regions.
Residents and businesses owners may apply for a range of assistance by calling SBA at 1-800-659-2955 or FEMA at 1-800-462-9029. Those with speech or hearing impairments can call TTY 1-800-462-7585, or the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339. Multilingual operators are on duty from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
As of November 15:
· FEMA's toll free registration line has made 21,633 referrals to the SBA for disaster loan assistance, including 7,024 home and 14,609 businesses.
· SBA has received 5,257 disaster loan applications (624 home, 792 business physical, 3,841 economic injury).
· SBA has approved 1,433 disaster loans totaling $120,333,700.
· Closing documents have been completed on 1,294 loans.
· SBA has made 702 disbursements for $22,183,700

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