Webinar: SBA Small Loan Advantage Program

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. SBA District Office Join LA SBA Lender Team Teleconference - 5/31/12 @ 10am Small Loan Advantage Program Please join the Los Angeles SBA District Office - Lender Relations Division Thursday, May 31, 2012 from 10:00am to 11:00am for an opportunity to learn more about SBA’s Small Loan Advantage Program. This teleconference with SBA’s Los Angeles District Office will discuss the streamlined application process for SBA 7(a) loans up to $250,000. Please RSVP by emailing a list of attendees to:  LADOlenderRelations@sba.gov by Tuesday, May 29, 2012 and you will receive a follow-up e-mail with the conference call dial in information.  This training opportunity is being offered via telephone only. Overview of SBA’s Small Loan Advantage Program Small Loan Advantage is structured to encourage larger, existing SBA lenders to make lower-dollar loans, which often benefit businesses in underserved markets. - Maximum Loan Size: $250,000. - Guarantee: 85 percent for loans up to $150,000 and 75 percent for those greater than $150,000. - Approval Times: Most Small Loan Advantage loans will be approved in a matter of minutes through electronic submission (e-Tran). Non-delegated Small Loan Advantage loans will be approved within 5 to 10 days. - Paperwork: Small Loan Advantage features streamlined paperwork, with a two-page application for borrowers and lenders can use their own note and guaranty agreement. - Lender Requirements: Small Loan Advantage is open to financial institutions (currently 630 lenders) participating in SBA’s Preferred Lender Program (PLP).

FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System

Mobile wireless emergency alerting capabilities will be available nationwide through participating carriers

WASHINGTON - Hurricane Season begins June 1, 2012, FEMA is providing additional tools for federal, state, local, tribal and territorial officials to alert and warn the public about severe weather. Using the Commercial Mobile Alert System, or CMAS, which is a part of FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, this structure will be used to deliver Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to wireless carriers for distribution to the public.

The CMAS system will allow the National Weather Service to soon begin issuing WEAs for the most dangerous weather through participating wireless carriers directly to cell phones. The alerts will be broadcast by cell towers much like an AM/FM radio station, and cell phones within range will immediately pick up the signal, provided they are capable of receiving these alerts. The availability of WEA alerts will be dependent on the network status of the wireless carriers and handset availability, since not all cell phones can receive WEAs. People should check with their cellular carriers to see if WEA alerts are available in their area.

"The wireless emergency alert capability provides an additional opportunity for the public to receive life-saving information needed to get out of harm's way when a threat exists," said Timothy Manning, FEMA deputy administrator for protection and national preparedness. "The public also has a critical role in their personal preparedness. There are a few simple steps that everyone can take to be prepared, like knowing which risks exist in your area and making a family emergency plan. Information and resources to help individuals and families prepare can be found at ready.gov."

WEAs will look like a text message, and will automatically appear on the mobile device screen showing the type and time of alert along with any action that should be taken. The message will be no more than 90 characters, and will have a unique tone and vibration, indicating a WEA has been received. If an alert is received, citizens should follow the instructions and seek additional information from radio, television, NOAA Weather Radio, and other official sources for emergency information. Citizens should only call 911 in a life threatening situation.

Only authorized federal, state, local, tribal or territorial officials can send WEA alerts to the public. As with all new cellular services, it will take time for upgrades in infrastructure, coverage, and handset technology to allow WEA alerts to reach all cellular customers.

FEMA urges individuals and businesses to take action to prepare themselves in advance of severe weather and hurricanes such as taking the pledge to prepare at www.ready.gov/pledge. This is the first step in making sure you and your family is ready for an emergency. This includes filling out your family communications plan that you can email to yourself, assembling an emergency kit, keeping important papers and valuables in a safe place, and getting involved.

With the start of hurricanes season it is even more important to know your risk, take action, and be an example. While hurricanes often offer some warning that a threat is approaching, severe weather can occur at any time and in any place, including high winds, inland flooding, severe storms and tornadoes.

For more on family preparedness, visit www.ready.gov/hurricanes for more planning information and safety tips.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.