Small business administrstor says Iowa businnesses can get disaster aid

The national administrator of the U-S Small Business Administration is in Kansas City today, meeting with Iowa S-B-A leaders. Hector Barreto says many of Iowa’s small businesses are in poor financial straights following the terrorist attacks.Barreto says about 98-percent of Iowa’s 200-thousand businesses are considered “small” businesses with fewer than 500 employees. He says a recent change in S-B-A policy will enable -any- small business in the U-S to apply for a disaster loan following the September 11th attacks. Previously, only businesses in New York, Pennsylvania and the Washington D-C area were eligible. Barreto says the change extends a hand to Iowa businesses.A regional economist described Iowa’s economy this week as “limping along.” Barreto says the S-B-A is dedicated to helping businesses succeed, especially as they head into a holiday shopping season which many believe will be lackluster.There are S-B-A offices in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. For information, surf to “www.sba.gov”.