Sioux Center, Iowa — The Small Business Administration’s Small Business Development Center opened a branch office at the Centre Mall in Sioux Center on Friday to address the needs of local flood victims.
Larry Wajda, regional director for the Northwest Iowa SBDC, says his work is typically with self-employed individuals; he enables them to sustain their business and works on raising capital funds if they need it, whether through a lender or state or federal programs. He says since they are an arm of the SBA, he is also tasked with helping small businesses recover financially after flooding.
Wajda says FEMA funding is done through the SBA, so counselors at his center are also helping families who have suffered personal losses. He says the business recovery center coordinates efforts and connects the dots between the SBA and FEMA.
Monday was the first full day of operations and the center served 20 people.
Wajda says they help people fill out disaster relief forms, answer questions or simply provide information.
As far as help for businesses goes, Wajda says it all comes down to how the business wants to start over, or if the business wants to start over. Help for both individuals and businesses comes in the form of low-interest loans designed to help families and businesses get back on their feet. He says they also have people from his office knocking on doors in each of the flood-affected communities trying to get in touch with everyone.
Wajda encourages everyone affected by the floods to reach out for help, saying that even if they don’t qualify, it’s better to get a definitive answer. Wajda says there’s a lot of misinformation circulating and wants everyone to get the right information, which they can do at the SBRC. She also urges caution, saying scammers are already hard at work.
Wajda encourages people with questions to call him directly at 712-580-8619. Additionally, he says they have battery packs to charge phones, computers, etc., as well as water bottles at the SBRC in Sioux Center for those who need them. Those items and the services they provide are free of charge. The SBA Recovery Center will be open at the Sioux Center Mall this week and, depending on the need, next week as well. (Photo above courtesy of the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office)
(Courtesy of Community First Broadcasting station KSOU in Sioux Center)