ATLANTA – U.S. Small Business Administration previously advised the closure of one of our Mississippi Gulf Coast Business Recovery Centers located in Jackson County (Pascagoula, MS). However, we want businesses affected by the Deepwater BP Oil Spill to know this is only a temporary suspension of operations and we will re-open our Business Recovery Center in Jackson County as soon as possible.

Centers in neighboring counties of George and Harrison can be utilized until the Jackson County facility is ready or another site is obtained. This process is moving with a degree of urgency and should be completed within a few days.

The Business Recovery Center hours are Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the following locations:

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“Due to the amount of economic losses caused by the Deepwater BP Oil Spill in Mississippi, we want affected businesses to have a resource where they can meet individually with SBA representatives and find out how a low-interest disaster loan can help them recover,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.

Business owners who are unable to visit one of the Centers may obtain applications and program information by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT.

The deadline to return economic injury applications is February 14, 2011.

For more information about the SBA’s Disaster Loan Programs, visit our website at www.sba.gov