The Louisiana Workforce Commission has been actively responding to the needs of businesses and job seekers in connection to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Below are brief talking points highlighting the latest news and information for your use and to share:

 

Louisiana Workforce Commission centers throughout state can assist with oil spill job applications

  • Business and Career Solutions Centers throughout Louisiana can accept applications from job seekers
    interested in potential jobs that may become available due to the oil spill.
  • The LWC is working with companies that have been contracted to provide oil spill-related services.
    A variety of job positions requiring a range of skill levels may be needed.
  • Each Business and Career Solutions Center can provide details on available oil spill-related jobs, as well
    as other jobs in the center’s region, and process applications.
  • To find the closest Business and Career Solutions Center, interested job seekers can go to the LWC
    web site, www.laworks.net, and select the link ”Business & Career Solutions Center” in the navigation table in the top right of the home page.
  • Workforce Commission services are offered at no cost to employers and participating job seekers.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Claims Process Fact Sheet for Individuals and Businesses

 

How to claim for lost income due to oil spill: 1-800-440-0858

  • People who have lost income due to the oil spill should call a toll-free hotline established by BP to discuss
    spill-related damage claims: 1-800-440-0858.
  • BP is responsible for all damages and losses resulting from the oil spill.

Unemployment claims update

  • For workers who lose their jobs and are NOT self-employed:
    • The federal government has NOT authorized Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) in
      connection with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
    • Regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits are available to qualified individuals who lose their
      jobs because of the oil spill.
    • The best way to file a regular UI claim is through the LWC web site, www.laworks.net. Those
      without Internet access wishing to file a claim should call 1-866-783-5567.
    • Also, a toll-free hotline has been established by BP to discuss spill-related damage claims,
      including loss of income: 1-800-440-0858.
  • For self-employed and others who do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits and
    whose jobs have been lost or interrupted by the oil spill:
    • The federal government has NOT authorized Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) in
      connection with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
    • Emergency assistance through Deepwater Horizon Response may be available. A toll-free hotline
      has been established by BP to discuss spill-related damage claims, including loss of income:
      1-800-440-0858.
  • LWC is ready to handle submission of DUA claims if it is authorized by the federal government.

Entrepreneurship opportunity

  • Companies and self-employed individuals, such as shrimpers and fishermen, interested in providing
    preventive services and other services needed as part of the oil spill response should contact BP
    at 1-281-366-5511.

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SBAFACT SHEET ABOUT U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOANS

Incident: Deepwater BP Oil Spill - Disaster LA-00032 -
Declaration 12613 - Occurring April 20, 2010 & Continuing

In the Louisiana parishes of: Ascension, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne & Washington; the contiguous Louisiana parishes of: Acadia, Allen, Assumption, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, St. Helena, St. James, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. John the Baptist, Vermilion, West Baton Rouge & West Galician; and the contiguous Mississippi counties of: Amite, Hancock, Marion, Pearl River, Pike, Walthall & Wilkerson.

Filing deadline for applications for economic injury: February 7, 2011

Type of Disaster Loan:

  • Economic injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) - are working capital loans to help small business, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.
  • EIDL assistance is available only to entities and their owners who cannot provide for their own recovery from non-government sources, as determined by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Capital Requirements:

  • Credit History - Applicants must have a credit history acceptable to SBA.
  • Repayment - Applicants must show the ability to repay the loan.
  • Collateral - Collateral is required for all EIDLs over $5,000. SBA takes real estate as collateral when it is available. SBA will not decline a loan for lack of collateral, but will require the borrower to pledge collateral that is available.

Interest Rate:

  • The interest rate is 4.000% for businesses and small agricultural cooperatives without credit available elsewhere.
  • The interest rate is 3.000% for non-profit organizations without credit available elsewhere.

Loan Term

  • The law authorizes loan terms up to a maximum of 30 years.
  • SBA determines the term of each loan in accordance with the borrowers's ability to repay. Based on the financial circumstances of each borrower, SBA determines an appropriate installment payment amount, which in turn determines the actual term.

Loan Amount Limit:

  • Economic Injury Disaster Loans (SIDL) - The law limits EIDL(s) to $2,000,000 for alleviating economic injury caused by the disaster. The actual amount of each loan is limited to the economic injury determined by SBA, less business interruption insurance and other recoveries up to the administrative lending limit. SBA also considers potential contributions that are available from the business and/or its owner(s) or affiliates. If a business is a major source of employment, SBA has the authority to waive the $2,000,000 statutory limit.

Loan Eligibility Restrictions

  • Noncompliance - Applicants who have not complied with the terms of previous loans are not eligible. This includes prior borrowers who did not maintain required flood insurance.

Insurance Requirements:

  • To protect each borrower and the Agency, SBA requires borrowers to obtain and maintain appropriate insurance. Borrowers of all secured loans (over $5,000) must purchase and maintain hazard insurance for the life of the loan on the collateral property. By law, borrowers whose collateral property is located in a special flood hazard area must also purchase and maintain flood insurance for the full insurable value of the property for the life of the loan.

For more information, contact SBA DIsaster Assistance Customer Service Center at
(800) 659-2955 or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance