US Small Business Administration Associate Administrator Francisco Sánchez Jr. convened a roundtable of local business and community leaders Thursday to listen and learn about SBA's performance following the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires.

Maui Economic Opportunity hosted the gathering with about 30 people in its Wailuku classroom.

Sánchez called the gathering an opportunity for a reset, a "Day One." SBA has been on Maui since the day after the wildfires. Now, it has 10 staff on island with plans for growth, he said.

SBA's mission is to provide subsidized credit for businesses as well as homeowner and business disaster loans with interest rates as low as 2.5%.

Sánchez and his staff took feedback from the group. Questions focused on the role of SBA in disaster loan relief for homeowners and renters - not just businesses - refinance options, varied answers to questions, layering of financing and improving dissemination of information on programs.

For information about SBA disaster assistance for homeowners, renters, nonprofits and businesses impacted by the Maui wildfires, visit here. For SBA home and personal property loans, click here.