JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After a fire tore through the Pecan Park Flea Market at the beginning of April, many of the families and vendors who lost their livelihood were left wondering where to turn to for help.
Their prayers may have been answered Wednesday when the Small Business Administration declared that the Pecan Park Flea & Farmers Market fire constituted a physical disaster and wanted to help assist the businesses who lost so much.
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On April 6, more than 100 firefighters were dispatched to the blaze at the market fire which took at least two hours to control and damaged or destroyed more than 70 businesses.
The SBA has the ability to declare economic, physical and other types of disasters which allows business owners to apply for low-interest loans to cover losses caused by a disaster.
Starting on April 28 any business owner that was affected by the fire from Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns Counties can apply for the assistance.
Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Bryan Koon did take the time to remind applicants that these were loans and not grants.
"Business owners will still be required to demonstrate the ability to re-pay the loans in order to receive this particular type of assistance," Koon said.
A presidential declaration for Individual Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency was not requested, because the level of damage sustained during the fire wasn't great enough.
People seeking assistance can call the SBA customer service center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing). Applications can be also be downloaded at www.sba.gov/disaster.
Applications for assistance may also be made in person at the local Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC):
Duval County
Highlands Branch Library 1826 Dunn Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32218
The DLOC will open on Tuesday, April 28, and will close on Thursday, May 7, 2015. The hours of operation are as follow:
Tuesdays and Thursday: 4/28, 5/5 and 4/30 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Wednesdays and Friday: 4/29, 5/6 and 5/1 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 5/2 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday and Monday: 5/3 and 5/4 Closed
Thursday: 5/7 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.