Joint SBA and Project Restore HOPE scheme launched to help Gulf Coast disaster recovery

In an effort to provide financial counseling and assistance to small and minority businesses affected by the hurricanes that ravaged the Gulf Coast earlier this year, the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and Operation HOPE, Inc. have joined forces to launch Project Restore HOPE/Small Business.

Project Restore HOPE/Small Business offers small and minority businesses in disaster-affected communities access to free financial counseling, information on economic assistance programs, and budgeting advice through one-on-one telephone counseling. To access this resource, business owners should call 1-888-388-HOPE (4673) and select the Project Restore HOPE/Small Business option.

“I would like to thank Operation HOPE for joining us in this worthy cause to help disaster-affected small and minority businesses and entrepreneurs get back on their feet,” said Administrator Barreto. “Small businesses are the engine of our economy and I hope that the local business community, lending and insurance institutions will join us to help reenergize the Gulf Coast economy and create jobs.”

SBA and Operation HOPE will also work together to recruit 1000 volunteer professionals from financial institutions, credit unions, and insurance companies to participate in this initiative as soon as possible. Participating volunteers will provide free financial counseling, information on economic assistance programs, and budgeting advice to small business owners in the Gulf Coast area. The one-on-one counseling will be provided via telephone.

“The Gulf Coast region—from its location to its resources to its unique community trades and businesses—represents one of richest regions commerce-wise in our country,” said John Bryant, chairman and CEO, Operation HOPE. “We can not and will not give up on the businesses affected, or the people who still want to create business in the region. Rather, we must actively support, encourage and educate them, through substantive and result-oriented, on the ground and direct-action programs like Operation HOPE’s. We must all remember that you cannot even have a rainbow without a storm first. Our friends in the Gulf Coast region have been through their storm.”

www.sba.gov
www.operationhope.org

•Date: 9th Dec 2005 • Region: US • Type: Article •Topic: Disaster recovery, general
Rate this article or make a comment - click here