Below is important disaster relief information for retailers. Other important current information can be found on our Announcements page. If you need further information, please contact us or call us at 225-344-9481 or toll-free 800-572-2378. Thank you. Your Louisiana Retailers Association team. Filing Claims with BP BP has established a process for individuals and businesses to file claims to cover losses and/or damage. File a claim by calling the toll-free number, 1-800-440-0858 (TTY device 1-800-572-3053), or by submitting a form online at www.bp.com/claims. You may visit one of the 25 BP Claims Offices; however, it is recommended that you first obtain a claim number by calling the toll free number 1-800-440-0858 (TTY device 1-800-572-3053). This will help avoid delays. Louisiana Claims Offices: Cut Off, LA (Lafourche Parish) Tarpon Heights Shopping Center 16263 E. Main Street, Unit 2 Cut Off, LA 70345 Gretna/Belle Chasse (Jefferson Parish) 2766 Belle Chasse Hwy Suite A09 Belle Chasse, LA 70037 Houma, LA (Terrebonne Parish) Plaza Caillou Shopping Center 814 Grand Caillou Rd, Suite 2 & 3 Houma, LA 70363 Morgan City, LA (St. Mary Parish) 931 US Hwy 90 East Bayou Vista, LA 70380 New Iberia, LA (Iberia Parish) 956 S. Lewis Street New Iberia, LA 70560 New Orleans (Orleans Parish) 4375 Michoud Blvd New Orleans, LA 70129 Venice (Plaquemines Parish) 41093 Hwy La 23 Boothville, LA 70038 Westwego (Jefferson Parish) 1280 West Bank Expressway Westwego, La 70094 LED JOINS FORCES WITH SBA AND LSBDC TO ASSIST SMALL BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY OIL SPILL Louisiana Economic Development and the U.S. Small Business Administration opened Business Recovery Centers in six southeastern Louisiana parishes. Owners of small businesses who have been affected financially by the Deepwater Horizon BP Oil Spill can visit the centers to speak with SBA and Louisiana Small Business Development Center Network, or LSBDC, representatives about their options regarding the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan, or EIDL, program.In response to a request from Gov. Bobby Jindal, SBA Administrator Karen Mills activated the loan program in 34 Louisiana parishes and seven counties in Mississippi. At each center, LSBDC counselors and SBA customer service representatives are available for free, one-on-one consultations. Services include assistance with SBA's EIDL program and loan packaging support, a review of financial options for small businesses and other traditional counseling assistance. The deadline to apply for EIDL loans is Monday, Feb. 7, 2011. The centers are scheduled to be open Mondays through Fridays at the following locations and times indicated. No appointment is necessary, and all services are free. JEFFERSON PARISH LSBDC Greater New Orleans Region UNO Jefferson Center 3330 N. Causeway, Suite 422 Metairie, LA 70002 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Grand Isle Community Center The Rotary Room 3811 Highway 1 Grand Isle, LA 70358 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PLAQUEMINES PARISH St. Patrick's Church Family Life Center 28698 Highway 23 Port Sulphur, LA 70083 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Venice Boat Harbor Office Tiger Pass Road Venice, LA 70091 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. SEEDCO Financial Southeast Louisiana Fisheries Assistance Center 212 Avenue G Belle Chasse, LA 70037 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ST. BERNARD PARISH Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Co. 1801 East Judge Perez Drive Chalmette, LA 70043 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Business Recovery Center 7801 Hopedale Highway Hopedale, LA 70085 9 a.m. to 6 p.m ST. TAMMANY PARISH Business Recovery Center 1330 Bayou Lane Trailer 102 Slidell, LA 70460 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. LAFOURCHE PARISH South Lafourche Public Library 16241 East Main St. Cut Off, LA 70345 Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ORLEANS PARISH Vietnamese Initiatives in Economic Training 4655 Michoud Blvd., #D6 First Floor New Orleans, LA 70129 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eligible small businesses include those engaged in shrimping, crabbing and oyster fishing in waters affected by the closure (employees or crew members are not small businesses and are not eligible); small businesses dependent on the catching or sale of shrimp, crabs and oysters and suppliers of fishing gear and fuel; docks, boatyards, processors, wholesalers, shippers, retailers and other small businesses dependent on revenue from fishing, recreational and sports-fishing small businesses, and coastal small businesses. For business owners who are unable to visit a center, they may obtain loan information and application forms by calling SBA's Customer Service Center at 800.659.2955. Free Consumer Assistance Hotline Still Available for Gulf Oil Spill Victims The free consumer legal assistance hotline, established as a joint effort between the LSBA and the Louisiana Civil Justice Center, is still available for victims of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The hotline assists callers seeking lawyer referrals, general legal information, details about what lawyers can and cannot do to promote their services, and what steps to take if confronted with unethical solicitation by an attorney. The hotline can be accessed at (504)355-0970 or (800)310-7029, Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Assistance also is available to Spanish-speaking callers.