After the Riots / NEWS IN BRIEF : BILINGUAL HELP
Non-English speaking riot victims will be able to receive help in applying for loans under a program sponsored by the Small Business Administration and AT&T.;
The telecommunications company has agreed to donate the use of its interpreters and instant conference call capabilities to assist SBA personnel and loan applicants in securing information.
Beginning today, non-English speaking loan applicants can call an 800 number, identify their language and be hooked up with an interpreter who will be able to relay information between the applicant and SBA officials.
Loan applicants will have access to more than 140 languages and dialects. Until now, the SBA has been able to provide interpretive services in only Vietnamese, Spanish and Korean.
“It will help us process loans more quickly, help with site review to determine damages, will assist with closing loans . . . and help us to respond to the new global community,” said SBA regional administrator Oscar Wright.
Wright said the agency receives between 20 and 30 calls a day from people who need the use of an interpreter.
The toll free number for SBA information is 1-800-488-5323.
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