LOS ANGELES —  In response to historic winter storms, federal officials Wednesday opened a Small Business Assistance Disaster Loan Center to help local companies affected by the bad weather.

What You Need To Know

  • Federal officials opened a Small Business Assistance Disaster Loan Center to help local companies affected by the bad weather

  • The center will provide support to businesses and individuals impacted by storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred from Jan. 31 to Feb. 9, 2024

  • Residents of L.A. County can receive in-person assistance at the center, located at Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, 510 S. Vermont

  • Last week, Mayor Karen Bass encouraged businesses and individuals impacted by the winter storms to participate in the U.S. Small Business Administration's Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center.

The center will be open through June 5 in Los Angeles, providing support to businesses and individuals impacted by storms, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred from Jan. 31 to Feb. 9, 2024. While the deadline to apply for property damage is July 16, the deadline to apply for economic injury is Feb. 18, 2025.

Residents of L.A. County can receive in-person assistance at the center, located at Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, 510 S. Vermont. The center will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except on the final day, June 5, when the center will close at 5 p.m.

Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability can dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Last week, Mayor Karen Bass encouraged businesses and individuals impacted by the winter storms to participate in the U.S. Small Business Administration's Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center.

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. The SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help prevent or minimize damage in the future.

For small businesses, most private nonprofit organizations of any size, and other qualifying entities, 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.

In February, the city of Los Angeles opened Local Assistance Centers for homeowners, renters and business owners impacted by the early February storms. These centers served as a one-stop shop where Angelenos could ask questions and obtain information regarding services and assistance available from government agencies and local nonprofits.