Today is the final day for residents and businesses affected by Super Typhoon Sinlaku to apply for U.S. Small Business Administration physical damage assistance, SBA public affairs specialists Raenada Mason and Corey Williams said on Good Morning Marianas Friday.
Both Survivor Recovery Centers are open today until 4 p.m. with customer service representatives available. After today, the online application closes, and late applications will only be accepted at the recovery centers with justification for the delay.
“We’re not leaving,” Williams said, but he stressed that applying today is far easier while online access remains open.
SBA disaster loan approvals for the CNMI have now topped $67 million: $59.6 million for Saipan, $6.3 million for Tinian and $901,000 for Rota, Mason said. About 21 SBA staff remain on the ground servicing Saipan, Tinian and Rota across the Sinlaku and Bavi declarations.
The Survivor Recovery Center will be closed Saturday due to the approaching weather and resumes normal Tuesday-through-Saturday operations next week.
The pair also announced Real Talk with SBA, a virtual question-and-answer session running 1 to 2 p.m. today via Zoom in partnership with the Saipan Small Business Development Center. The session focused on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan and physical disaster loan programs and was aimed at businesses and nonprofits, though homeowners and renters with questions were welcome.
Williams highlighted economic injury as the overlooked half of disaster loss. “Everybody can see a roof blown off, windows blown out, water in a building. But most businesses do not see economic injury, drops in sales, canceled events,” he said, pointing to the full cancellation of 2026 Liberation Day festivities as revenue nonprofits will never recover.
Applicants can tap unsecured working capital under both declarations: up to $50,000 under Sinlaku for homeowners, businesses and nonprofits, plus up to $14,000 under Bavi for Saipan and Tinian, or up to $50,000 under Bavi on Rota. Williams encouraged applicants concerned about collateral to pursue the unsecured amounts under both.
On a viewer question about rental assistance, Williams said that program runs through FEMA, not SBA, and renters denied assistance should read their FEMA letter fully and file an appeal.
