[StBernard] SBA Program Announced, and Duck Hunting Update

[Westley Annis]

SBA Program Announced, and Duck Hunting Update 

November 13, 2005

By: Steve Cannizaro


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Small Business Administration Gulf Opportunity loan program announced at
banks; Non-resident duck hunters to be allowed into the parish for
duck-hunting season.

The Small Business Administration Gulf Opportunity Loan program has been
created to help meet the needs of small businesses trying to get operating
again in parishes affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

One bank now operating in St. Bernard Parish and four other banks that say
they will reopen in the parish will participate in the loan program,
according to Charles Ponstein, who is working on a committee appointed by
parish government to help businesses.

The one-year pilot program combines SBA's full 85 percent guaranty with an
expedited loan process, Ponstein said.

The program offers a maximum loan amount of $150,000 and is designed to meet
immediate financing needs of small businesses. It augments other SBA
long-term disaster assistance loan program.

SBA guarantees a portion of loans made through lending institutions,
Ponstein said.

Information on the SBA loan program is available on the agency's website at
http://www.sba.gov, he said. "It's brand new,'' Ponstein said of the
program.

Ponstein said he has met with representatives of banks in St. Bernard and
they said they would participate in the SBA loan program. "All said they
they are coming back,'' said Ponstein.

Gulf Coast bank has reopened on West Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette and
Ponstein said Hibernia officials said they will reopen at the West Judge
Perez Drive location and Regions Bank said it will reopen on Paris Road in
Chalmette. Ponstein also said Whitney Bank and Chase indicated they will
reopen but no location site was announced.

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Sheriff Jack Stephens announced that non-residents will be allowed into St. 
Bernard for the start of duck-hunting season Saturday morning providing they

have a hunting license.

The parish has been open only to residents with identification and workers 
but the restriction will be lifted at checkpoints prior to dawn on Saturday 
for people with hunting licenses, Stephens said.