NTA Makes Initial Appeal for Help to Small Business Administration
September 1, 2005
NTA Makes Initial Appeal for Help to Small Business Administration
September 1, 2005 – The National Tour Association is working with the Small Business Administration to assist in disaster recovery loans for its members following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Director of Small Business Loan Assistance, Gary Jackson, in a telephone discussion with NTA Legislative Counsel Jim Santini, pledged to assist NTA members in every possible way in order to get their businesses back to normal. Jackson was the key official to help small business tour companies with loans in the aftermath of Sept. 11. According to Jackson, the SBA will work with small industry businesses just as it did following the events of Sept. 11 to assist any business that meets the requirements of the Business Administration’s Economic Disaster Loan program.
"NTA is working with the SBA to provide assistance to small industry companies adversely affected by this terrible natural disaster, "Santini said. "NTA wants our members to know that we are working every avenue of support as we confront this tragic situation."
The Economic Disaster Loan program provides funds to eligible small businesses to meet its ordinary and necessary operating expenses that it could have met, but is unable to meet as a direct result of Hurricane Katrina.
According to Jackson, SBA is still assessing the situation and NTA will keep its members updated as information becomes available.
The National Tour Association has nearly 4,000 tourism professional members from 28 countries involved in the growth and development of the packaged travel industry. Its membership includes tour operators – group, independent, inbound and outbound – and the destinations and suppliers that partner with them. The association is committed to providing business results and information to its members, while offering a collaborative, caring environment in which to build relationships. For more information, please visit http://www.ntaonline.com/.
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