NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Congressman Troy Carter (D-New Orleans) is partnering with the Small Business Administration to bring federal aid to crawfish farmers.

During a seminar on Monday, officials with Carter's office and the SBA announced people in the crawfish industry are now able to apply for a loan, with the help of the SBA.

On March 6, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry issued a disaster declaration that the SBA needed to authorize aid for crawfish farmers.

Deputy District Director of the SBA Jo Lawrence says the Economic Injury Disaster Loan would best suit the people who are hurting financially.  

"With the Small Business Administration Loan, we're looking at the Economic Injury Disaster Loan that will help them meet their immediate working capital needs," said Lawrence.

According to the SBA, the loan will be at a low interest rate for 30 years with no cost plan and no closing costs.

"That's because it comes directly from the Small Business Administration," said Lawrence. "So, right now, what we are, is we're waiting on the declaration to be declared."

"Certainly these 40 days, for some people, that's their entire income for the year," said District Director for Congressman Troy Carter, Demetric Mercade. "They're hit really hard not being able to sell at the multitude of crawfish that they normally would sell. Hopefully, now that the prices are starting to come down, they'll be able to somewhat catch up."

However, Chef Charnae Hawkins doesn't have much hope.

"It's crazy because, like, I was calling the seafood man, you know, 'Hey, can I get a sack?'" Hawkins said. "For only five sacks, they charged me $1,500. $300 a sack is crazy."

Although the loan is helpful to Hawkins, she feels that a grant would have made more sense.

"It's hurting us, you see, the impact is hurting all business," Hawkins said. "So, basically, you're telling us you want business to close in, you don't want to help. We have to pay the money back. So, I feel like this should have been a grant instead of a loan."

The SBA says it is not authorized to issue grants at this time. But that's not going to stop Hawkins from selling one of Louisiana's favorite seafoods.

"I feel like it will be no change the next year, if you want to be honest, the next year," Hawkins said. "But I'm still going to go for it. You know, I'm going to go for it. "

The next seminars will be held on March 20, March 21 and March 26.

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