Three years after Hurricanes Laura and Delta dealt a huge blow to small businesses across Southwest Louisiana, relief is finally in site.

Cher Walker, owner and manager of Blue Star Marine, is the first loan recipient in the area for the Restore Louisiana Small Business Program.

“It’s just wonderful,” Walker said Friday after it was announced her loan was closed during a special ceremony at the SEED Center. “I never dreamed today would happen. Hurricane Laura brought people to their knees and everyone knows what that feels like in this area. I feel like someone finally heard what it’s like to be a small business going through this.”

She said the $250,000 loan will allow her to hire more employees and buy more equipment to make their jobs easier.

“It’s just such a blessing that someone’s listening and paying attention,” she said.

Blue Star Marine is a marine transportation company that delivers provisions to ships and offers launch and commercial dive services. The company, which operates throughout Southwest Louisiana with loadout locations in Cameron and Lake Charles, has been in business about 15 years.

“It’s a small, locally run business and we have wonderful employees,” Walker said. “We work hard and put our heart and soul into the business.”

The Restore Louisiana Small Business Programs was designed for small businesses that were affected by Hurricanes Laura and Delta and the floods of 2020-2021, said Dane Bergeron, assistant regional manager for the Restore Louisiana program.

“It’s a loan program for unmet needs. It’s not designed for the Walmarts of the world, it’s designed for the small businesses and for things not covered under insurance,” he said. “It’s not for construction; it’s for things like payroll, operating expenses and equipment.”

He said the loan program — which is zero interest for a seven-year term — is for businesses that sustained at least $10,000 in damages and suffered a 20 percent reduction in revenue.

It’s also 40 percent forgivable.

He said the application deadline for the program is being extended through June 30 because there is still money to be given out.

“People thought initially that it was too good to be true so they were slow to apply,” he said.

He said the group has received 150 applications so far, but Friday’s announcement was the first closing on a loan for the area.

“We have quite a few pending,” he said. “The process is tedious because you’re dealing with federal funds.”

For Walker, though, the process was worth it.

“When I was filling out the applications I was hoping — I’m a very positive, optimist person — it was real and would happen but it was still a long shot,” Walker said. “There was a lot of hoops I had to go through, but it was worth every bit of it.”

Additional information on submitting an application and program guidelines is available at restore.la.gov/SBLP. To receive technical assistance with the application, businesses can contact the Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Foundation by calling 504.913.7952 or emailing programs@labizspeaks.org.