By noon last Friday, the second day the temporary Small Business Administration office was open, Gwenda Barker had met with six San Juan County business owners who sought help recovering from financial losses they suffered during the storm that covered the county’s roads with snow and ice December 12 to January 5.

“This program provides low interest loans to help businesses that suffered financial losses, rather than for repairing property damage,” Barker said, noting that property damage in this area was not sufficient to have the county declared part of a disaster area. The loans being offered are designed to provide a financial bridge over the stress caused by losses of sales or inability to ship merchandise or perform work because of the storms.

Barker will be available to help with applications again Wednesday, February 11 through Friday, February 13 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the second floor conference room of the County Legislative building at 55 Second Street in Friday Harbor.

A flyer with more details is available on line at: http://sanjuanco.com/news/News/11640SanJuanEIDLFlyer.doc.pdf