Crab Closures: San Mateo Offers Disaster Aid to Local Small Businesses Affected by Season Woes

Fishing boats docked off the shore of Half Moon Bay, Calif. Photo by Patch Editor Bea Karnes.

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The following is an announcement from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office:

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) has worked with Cal OES and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to offer disaster assistance to San Mateo County small businesses that were adversely impacted by the 2015 Dungeness Crab Season Delay and Rock Crab season closure.

By declaring a disaster, SBA will be helping local and statewide businesses that were financially impacted. Eligible business owners will be able to apply for a low-interest federal disaster loans to help assist with financial losses due to the crab season closure.

SEE ALSO:

• Calif. Crab Industry Disaster: Gov. Brown Asks for Federal Help

Eligible business owners include: small businesses engaged in crab fishing in the waters affected. Small businesses dependent on the catching or sale of crab, including suppliers of fishing gear and fuel, docks, boatyards, processors, wholesalers, shippers, and retailers, and other small businesses dependent on revenue from the above.

Our Sheriff’s OES office worked with the local community gathering information and helping assess the impact.

We gathered important information showing that our community was economically impacted. This information was crucial to make the request for help.

Lieutenant Paul Kunkel with San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services said, “this is a great first step to offer some relief to businesses in San Mateo County who are being negatively impacted by the crab season closure. We at OES remain committed to assisting our community when it is struck by disaster of any kind.”

SBA representatives will be available in San Mateo County to assist those requesting assistance. No appointment is necessary.

• Opens: Thursday, February 25 8am to 5pm
  Friday, February 26 8am to 1pm
  Disaster Loan Outreach Center
  Pillar Point Harbor
  1 Johnson Pier
  Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Applicants may also apply online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

For questions please contact:

SBA Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.