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Vallejo Times-Herald: Thompson hosts discussion on post-earthquake government loans

February 19, 2016
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By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

More than $40 million in disaster loans later, many of the businesses damaged by the 2014 South Napa Earthquake are back up and running, and some of them came to express thanks at a roundtable discussion on SBA loans hosted by Rep. Mike Thompson on Thursday.

Thompson welcomed Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet for the event, which included and a tour of Lixit Animal Care Products in Napa, his office said.

The discussion focused on the earthquake and how SBA disaster loans were used to help small businesses, non-profits and others rebuild, Thompson said.

Participants included officials from the SBA, the City and County of Napa, the Napa Valley Community Foundation, the Napa-Sonoma Small Business Development Center and local small business owners that received SBA disaster loans after the earthquake.

At about 3:20 a.m, on Aug. 24, 2014, a magnitude-6.0 earthquake struck the Napa, Solano and Sonoma County area, centered about three miles from American Canyon, six miles from Napa, and eight miles from Sonoma. It was the largest temblor to hit the Bay Area in 25 years and caused an estimated $362 million in private damage and $55 million in public damage.

After the earthquake, Thompson helped secure Presidential approval of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance (IA) disaster funds and Public Assistance (PA) disaster funds as well as SBA loans, his office noted. The SBA has approved 124 business loans, valued at over $9 million and 971 home loans, valued at over $30 million, he said.

“It was an honor to host SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet at today’s roundtable discussion,” Thompson said. “The SBA has provided over $40 million in assistance since the earthquake to help local business owners repair or replace damages and to help homeowners get back on their feet. The SBA’s disaster loan program is a great example of how the government can help people in times of need.”

Contreras-Sweet thanked Thompson for the opportunity to “see first-hand how SBA is having a positive impact on the region, especially after the 2014 earthquake. SBA was able to come in to the area and offer disaster assistance, to both business owners and homeowners. I’m delighted that the small businesses today affirmed the customer service level SBA’s office of Disaster Assistance is delivering commensurate with those of America’s top retailers. I stand by the expectation I have set for SBA. We are committed to continuing excellent customer service when Californians are in need.”

Thompson represents California’s 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Napa, Solano, Contra Costa, Lake and Sonoma counties.