SBA Honors Outstanding Disaster Recovery Efforts

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
A Maine town manager who knocked on doors to encourage at-risk residents to
evacuate as floodwaters rose, two Massachusetts business owners who not only
rebuilt after a flood but expanded their company, and a mother of four in
Indiana who recruited 70 volunteers and set up disaster relief centers were each
presented with Phoenix Awards today during the U.S. Small Business
Administration`s National Small Business Week 2009 in Washington, D.C.

The awards were given this afternoon during a luncheon at the Mandarin Oriental
hotel.

"These individuals displayed tremendous courage and resourcefulness in the midst
of the several devastating disasters," said SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills.
"The Phoenix Award acknowledges their heroic efforts, and is a token of
appreciation for their contributions to the recovery of their communities."

Fort Kent Town Manager Donald Guimond received the Phoenix Award for Outstanding
Contributions to Disaster Recovery by a Public Official. Heavy spring rains
washed away the winter`s 200 inches of snow in Maine`s Aroostook County, causing
the St. John and Fish rivers to rise beyond the 25-foot flood stage on May 1,
2008. Guimond took proactive steps to hasten the evacuation of at-risk areas as
city workers built temporary dikes. Once the town was out of danger, Guimond
gave disaster survivors timely information about recovery resources, serving as
the link between the townspeople and agencies providing assistance. He guided
Fort Kent through a historic disaster by functioning as a calm and capable
leader in the midst of a stressful and dangerous situation.

Juan and Luis Yépez, President and Vice President of Mainstream Global of
Lawrence, Massachusetts, received the Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster
Recovery. While on a European business trip in May 2006, the Yépez brothers
learned that the Merrimack River was flooding. When they returned the brothers
were stunned to find their 100,000 square-foot plant awash in sewage, water and
debris from ruined inventory and $370,000 worth of computer equipment. Although
the pair kept their 12 employees on the payroll as part of the "recovery team,"
the company was not fully operational for several weeks and they were losing
money. An SBA disaster loan kept the business from folding, and Mainstream
Global not only recovered but grew to a staff of 32, with annual sales exceeding
$8 million.

Amanda Baltensberger of Munster, Indiana received the Phoenix Award for her
Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery by a Volunteer. Heavy rains last
September caused the Little Calumet River to overflow in Munster, damaging 1,200
homes, many with eight feet of sewage water filling entire basements. Once the
floodwaters receded Baltensberger-a mother of four, college student and co-owner
of a printing business-borrowed a golf cart, grabbed her best friend and
prepared meals to deliver to the dazed disaster survivors.

In the days that followed, she enlisted 70 volunteers and set up relief centers
using borrowed tents and picnic tables. The centers became clearinghouses for
recovery information, meals, cleaning supplies and moral support. Weeks later,
she threw a block party-complete with live music, food and games for the kids-to
uplift the town`s spirits. She also created an "adopt-a-family" program, where
local volunteers checked up on and supported those still struggling to recover
after the disaster.

Since 1998, the SBA has presented Phoenix Awards to business owners, public
officials and volunteers who displayed selflessness, ingenuity and tenacity in
the aftermath of a disaster, while contributing to the rebuilding of their
communities.

The SBA makes low-interest, taxpayer-backed disaster loans to homeowners,
renters, businesses and non-profit organizations of all sizes. More information
about the disaster assistance program is available at
www.sba.gov/disasterassistance.

For more information about National Small Business Week, visit www.sba.gov/sbw.

The U.S. Small Business Administration thanks the cosponsors of National Small
Business Week and related events:
SCORE, Sam`s Club, Symantec Corporation, Ford, Raytheon, Administaff, Visa,
Sage, IBM, HP, Trend Micro, Lockheed Martin, Verio, Moran Media Group, D&B,
Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC), National Association
of Development Companies (NADCO), National Association of Government Guaranteed
Lenders (NAGGL), National Small Business Association (NSBA), Small Business
Entrepreneurship Council (SBEC), Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), and
National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE)

The U.S. Small Business Administration`s participation in this cosponsored
activity does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of any
cosponsor`s, donor`s, grantee`s, contractor`s or participant`s opinions,
products, or services. All SBA programs and cosponsored programs are extended to
the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons
with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance, by
contacting sbw@sba.gov. Cosponsorship Authorization #SBW2009

Release Number: 09-33

U.S. Small Business Administration
Carol Chastang, 202-205-6987
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

Copyright Business Wire 2009