Companies have trouble applying for SBA loans
4 mins read

Companies have trouble applying for SBA loans

  • Perry companies are facing obstacles when it comes to applying for federal loans as with Small Business Administration
  • ABC 27 took concern to SBA which gave advice on how neighbors can continue
  • Watch the video to hear from two small business owners about their experience and hear directly from SBA

Consignment printing:

Hurricane renovation efforts are still happening.
Now companies such as this fish camp meet obstacles when they try to get loans from federal agencies. ABC 27 took concern for one of these agencies to see what solutions they could provide.

Repairs of storm damage look costly to many in Taylor County. Many now in the process of trying to get loans.

David Hall owns Spring Warrior Fish Camp. I have followed his recovery and reconstruction since Idalia, since Debby and now Helene.

“We’ve put our entire lives in this, this is our home,” Hall said. “It’s sick. It’s really.”

For the first time, Hall is desperately looking for a small corporate loan (SBA) to rebuild its business. Thousands of dollars have been hit in damages.

Hall, however, said he has come up against a wall

“With SBA we have not even been able to submit our application yet because I cannot make a docusign,” Hall said. “We’ve been calling them daily for three months now and they still can’t fix it.”

If you could talk directly to SBA now, what would you say to them?
“Let me sign my documents so that I can submit my application so we can get some help and stay in business because we will lose the business if we do not,” Hall said.

I took David’s question to SBA.

Is that a question you’ve seen people face?
“If you have that problem again, if they can, stop at one of the centers so they can get that face-to-face help,” said John Frederick, leading specialist on public issues with SBA.

“Sometimes it can be overwhelming and that is why we have the support staff to help people with their problems and problems. We do not want them to feel that they are alone,” Frederick said.

I checked with SBA who sent me this link.

It shows that Small Business Development Center is on FAMU’s campus. It is supported by SBA and other partners.

Frederick said that neighbors can also email at [email protected] and call on 1-800-659-2599.

Something else they can do to help themselves if they contact you, if they try to get help, if they call you every day, is there anything else they can do beyond that?
“Just be persistent,” Frederick said. “We will definitely hear everyone who contacts us but if they can come to a center that will be the fastest way to get help.”

Dustin Whiddon got help from SBA after Hurricane Idalia destroyed its gymnastics company in 2023.

Whiddon said it took almost a year to get that help.

“The process is very difficult and scary and it is not helpful or encouraging at all,” Whiddon said.

Whiddon said he could eventually get some money from SBA after being persistent about his case.

“My personal experience has been that you have to find the right person to get somewhere,” Whiddon said.

Check with SBA have so far distributed almost 1 million to Taylor County residents after Helene.

Hall said it is help that is crucial to this county.

“We have had so much loss with buildings and with everything we cannot afford to give up this time,” Hall said.

SBA said they have extended their mercy period for 60 days from January 7, which will take us to March 7. Last week, state representatives held a meeting for Taylor County residents to share their problems after the storm. The next step will include a meeting to get agencies and state representatives in the same room to get some of their questions answered.