SBA Opens New Disaster Loan Outreach Center at Koblerville Youth Center to Continue Typhoon Relief

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has officially relocated its primary disaster assistance operations on Saipan, opening the doors to a new Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the Koblerville Youth Center on Tuesday, September 15.
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The move according to SBA Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience Public Affairs Specialist Raenada Mason is to ensure that ongoing relief efforts for survivors of Super Typhoon Sinlaku and Typhoon Bavi remain highly accessible to the community. The previous location at the multi-Purpose Center was closed on September 12 to accommodate upcoming early voting preparations.

​"We relocated because we wanted to continue providing assistance to the community," explained Mason, who has been on the ground since April. "We wanted to make sure that there was still a location for the survivors to come in, receive assistance, assist with applications, and answer any questions."
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​A major focus for the SBA at the new Koblerville location is helping applicants who may have previously received a rejection or withdrawal letter. Mason emphasized that a denial is rarely the end of the road.


​"Sometimes the decline is not an automatic final note," Mason said. "The important thing that we want to stress to those that have received either a decline or withdrawal is to first and foremost read the letter that you've received. You can come into the center to see what it is you can do to overcome that decision."


​Common reasons for application issues include missing tax returns, unverified addresses, or simple data entry errors made when residents fill out their applications online. Sitting down with an SBA representative can often quickly resolve these hurdles.


​"If you've had a withdrawal or a decline, and you're still sitting there, just holding that letter, come in, don't sit and don't wait any longer," urged Mason. "That's what we're here for."
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​While the SBA has not set an end date for their physical presence in the CNMI, critical application deadlines for Typhoon Bavi are fast approaching. Assistance is available for homeowners, renters, private nonprofits, and businesses. Businesses and nonprofits can also apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help with operating expenses and payroll, even if they suffered no physical property damage.
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For residents of Saipan and Tinian, the deadline to apply for physical damage is October 13, with the economic injury deadline set for May 13. Meanwhile, applicants on Rota must submit physical damage applications by October 3 and economic injury applications by May 3. Residents of Tinian and Rota can also continue to receive in-person assistance at the youth centers located on their respective islands.
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​For those requiring assistance filling out forms, third-party representatives can apply on behalf of a survivor, provided they bring written authorization to satisfy personal data protection requirements.
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The SBA currently operates two locations on Saipan to assist the community. The new Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the Koblerville Youth Center is open from Tuesday through Saturday, between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Alternatively, applicants can visit the One-Stop Business Permitting Center on Capitol Hill, which operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
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Residents who cannot visit a center in person can apply online at sba.gov/disaster or contact the SBA customer service line at 1-800-659-2955, which is available from 10:00 PM to 10:00 AM Saipan time. For immediate troubleshooting, Mason has also made herself available via WhatsApp at 240-782-1540.