SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it will permanently close its Lahaina Portable Loan Outreach Center at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

“The SBA opened the center to provide personalized assistance to Hawaii businesses and residents who were affected by the wildfires, including high winds that occurred Aug. 8 to Sept. 30,” said Director of the SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West, Jeffrey Lusk. “Until the center closes, SBA customer service representatives will be available to meet with businesses and residents to answer their questions, explain SBA’s disaster loan program and close their approved disaster loans,” he added.

Businesses and residents can meet with SBA representatives on the days and times indicated below prior to center’s closing. No appointment is necessary.

The Portable Loan Outreach Center is located at Maui Resorts Rentals at 30 Halawai Dr. in Lahaina and open Mondays through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

The SBA continues to provide one-on-one assistance to businesses and residents at all federal-state Disaster Recovery Centers, SBA Business Recovery Centers and the Business Resource Assessment Center to explain the SBA’s disaster loan program and help each business owner and resident apply. A listing of all recovery center locations can be found at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/disaster-details?recordId=a0e82000000IekiAAC.

Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.

Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.375 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2.5 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. The SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://www.sba.gov/hawaii_wildfires. Applicants may also contact the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on the SBA’s disaster assistance.

For people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability, dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX, 76155.

The deadline to apply for property damage is Nov. 9, 2023. The deadline to apply for economic injury is May 10, 2024.