Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., (R-Southwest Louisiana), today praised the SWLA Economic Development Alliance for setting up a business counseling center in Lake Charles to assist small business owners recovering from Hurricane Ike.

“Reopening our small businesses in the Lake Charles area is critical to recovery following this powerful storm,” Boustany said.  “The destruction I saw on Saturday in Cameron and Calcasieu parishes was incredible, but just as after Rita, we will roll up our sleeves and go to work.  I appreciate the SWLA Economic Development Alliance for their efforts to help businesses get back quickly.”

The SWLA Economic Development Alliance announced the counseling center in an e-mail from Director George Swift earlier today.  The text of that e-mail follows.

“The Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance has opened a Business Counseling Center on the first floor of the Willis Noland Resource Center (120 West Pujo Street, Lake Charles).  It is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday
 
"We appreciate the rapid response from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development (LED) who are already on hand to aid and assist the business community of Southwest Louisiana.  The Alliance strongly encourages all businesses and non-profit organizations within the Southwest Louisiana region to explore their recovery options at our center.  It is imperative that we work together to get our region back on its feet and back in business," said George Swift, President/CEO of The SWLA Economic Development Alliance.
 
SBA Disaster Team Counselors are currently available to assist businesses with low interest disaster recovery loans of up to 2 million dollars.  Loans are available to businesses of any size and non-profit organizations that have experienced any physical damage, loss of inventory, or equipment damage as well as those who require working capital to keep their businesses in operation until their recovery is complete.
 
Also on hand to offer counseling and recovery options are representatives from the McNeese State University Small Business Development Center as well as representatives from The SWLA Economic Development Alliance, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). 
 
For more information about the Business Counseling Center call The SWLA Economic Development Alliance at 337-433-3632.
 
For more information about the SBA, call 1-800-659-2955 or check out their website at www.sba.gov.”

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