***0 Disaster News***![](media/image1.png){width="1.5847222222222221in"
height="0.7277777777777777in"}

***Loans for Homeowners, Renters and Businesses of all Sizes***

SBA Disaster Assistance -- Field Operations Center- East - One Baltimore
Place, Suite 300 - Atlanta, GA 30308

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**Release Date:** March 26, 2007 **Contact:** Michael Lampton

**Release Number:** 07-310 **Phone:** 404-347-3771

**SBA Honors Outstanding Disaster Recovery Efforts**

**ATLANTA** - - A Gulf Coast Mayor and Volunteer from Mississippi; a
Printer/Publisher from Massachusetts and a Volunteer from New York who
provided exceptional services after Hurricane Katrina struck, and during
the aftermath of some of the worst flooding ever experienced in the New
England area, will be presented with the Phoenix Award on April 24
during the U.S. Small Business Administration's *National Small Business
Week*, the agency's two-day conference in Washington.

The award will be presented during an 8:30 a.m. breakfast at the Ronald
Reagan International Trade Center.

"These individuals displayed tremendous courage and selflessness in the
midst of the most devastating disasters ever experienced by our Agency,
said SBA Administrator Steven Preston. "The Phoenix Award is an
acknowledgement of their heroic efforts, and a token of appreciation for
their support of the physical and economic recovery efforts in the Gulf
Coast and New England States."

**Patrick Turley, President of Turley Publications, Inc. in Palmer,
MA**, will receive the Phoenix Award for **Small Business Disaster
Recovery**. One of New England's largest printers of community and
university newspapers, Turley Publications was forced to stop the
presses in October 2005 when flood waters caused property losses over
900 thousand dollars. Mr. Turley decided he wasn't going to miss a
deadline. Employees helped with the cleanup, electricity was restored
and two university newspapers were printed on time. Turley received an
SBA disaster loan and within five months the plant was running at full
capacity.

**John Thomas "Tommy" Longo, Mayor -- City of Waveland, MS**, will
receive the Phoenix Award for **Outstanding Contributions to Disaster
Recovery by a Public Official**. Waveland was cut off from the world in
the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The town was obliterated, and 80% of
the population was left homeless. Mayor Tommy Longo had just undergone
knee surgery. During the evacuation and rescue efforts, Longo was in
tremendous pain, yet he tirelessly worked to save lives and reassure
survivors. He commandeered a local park and established temporary
housing there, and helped gather resources needed to rebuild the City.

**Gregory L. Jenkins of Conklin, NY** will receive the Phoenix Award for
his **Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery by a Volunteer.**
The summer 2006 flooding of the Susquehanna River was one of the worst
in state history. Gregory Jenkins responded to his devastated community
by rescuing neighbors and assisting in the coordination of rescue
efforts by the National Guard. In the months after the flood, Jenkins
worked tirelessly to organize nearly 300 volunteers who assisted in
providing more than 20,000 meals, supporting local clean up efforts, and
distributing supplies and tools to disaster survivors.

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**SBA Honors Outstanding Disaster Recovery Efforts**

**John W. "Trey" Campbell III of Pass Christian, MS** will also receive
a Phoenix Award for his **Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery
by a Volunteer**.

John's home and business were destroyed in the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina. Still, he selflessly reached out to others, and became a
volunteer coordinator. Using his cell phone to broadcast a plea for
help, Campbell received many responses from volunteer organizations and
directed them to where help was needed. At his own expense, he housed
and fed volunteers for months. Campbell also worked with them cleaning
debris, painting, and helping the town rebuild.

Since 1998, the SBA has presented the Phoenix Awards to business owners
and individuals who displayed courage, resourcefulness and tenacity in
the aftermath of a disaster, while contributing to the rebuilding of
their communities.

The SBA makes low-interest, taxpayer-backed disaster loans to
homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes. In the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina and the 2006 New England Floods, the SBA has approved
more than \$11 billion in disaster loans to about 165,000 survivors, the
largest response in the agency 53-year history.

Homeowners may borrow up to \$200,000 to repair disaster damaged
residences. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to \$40,000
to replace personal property. Loans up to \$1.5 million are available to
businesses of all sizes including non-profit organizations to repair
damage to real estate, inventories, machinery and equipment.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans up to \$1.5 million are available to
small businesses unable to pay bills or meet operating expenses.

To find out more about the SBA's disaster assistance program and details
on National Small Business Week, visit our website at
[www.sba.gov/services](http://www.sba.gov/services).

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**For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Programs, visit our
web site at**
[*www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance*](http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance)