Disaster Assistance and Financial Assistance in the United States
Disaster Assistance
SBA serves as the Federal disaster bank for nonfarm, private sector losses. It lends money to help the victims of disasters repair or replace
most disaster-damaged property. Direct loans with subsidized interest rates are
made to assist individuals, homeowners, businesses of all sizes, and nonpro?t
organizations.
For further information, contact the Office of Disaster Assistance. Phone, 202–205–6734.
Financial Assistance
SBA provides its guarantee to lending institutions and certi?ed development companies that make loans to small-business concerns, which in turn use the loans for working capital and ?nancing the acquisition of land and buildings; the construction, conversion, or expansion of facilities; and the purchase of machinery and equipment.
The Administration also provides smallscale financial and technical assistance to
very small businesses through loans and business technical expertise to certain
countries.
OIT’s of?ce in Washington, DC, coordinates SBA’s participation/operation
of USEACs, including budget, policy, and administration. It participates in a variety
of interagency trade efforts and financial programs. OIT provides representations
to the Cabinet-level Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee concerning
trade and international economic policy.
It also participates on the Industry Sector Advisory Council on Small
Business International Trade and the congressionally sponsored Task Force on
Small Business International Trade. SBA’s Administrator is also a sitting member of
the President’s Export Council.
OIT’s ?eld of?ces provide a nationwide network of service delivery for smallbusiness
exporters. Full-time SBA export specialists staff 16 USEACs. Their
outreach efforts are supplemented by the 68 SBA district of?ces staffed by
employees with collateral duties as international trade of?cers.
For further information, contact the Office of International Trade. Phone, 202–205–6720. Internet, http://www.sba.gov/oit.