ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — While businesses continue to anxiously wait for direct deposits from BP claims to be placed in their bank accounts, another option for financial assistance is downsizing.

On Friday, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced that due to a steady decrease of activity, the Orange Beach Business Recovery Center will be closing today.

Set up to assist businesses affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the Center is located at the City of Orange Beach medical Arts Building, 4223 Orange Beach Blvd, Suite B.

“I encourage anyone who has not completed their disaster loan applications to visit the Center before it closes,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operation Center East in Atlanta. “After the center closes, we will still be available to help any business owner requiring assistance with their application or to answer questions. Just visit one of our other Centers or call our toll free number.”

The SBA is offering Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL’s) to small businesses affected by the oil spill. Anyone with an existing SBA disaster loan that is experiencing economic hardship due to the oil spill can request a loan deferment. These loans and loan deferments can provide vital financial assistance to help eligible entities overcome the loss of revenue they are experiencing.

Although the Orange Beach Business Recovery Center will be closing, another Business Recovery Center in Baldwin County located at Faulkner State Community College in Gulf Shores will remain open. That Center is at 3301 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Room 119, and is open weekdays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. There is an additional Center in Mobile at the Bayou La Batre Community Center, 12745 Padgett Switch Road.

According to Greg Dawson, Public Affairs Specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration, businesses can also call the SBA customer service center at 800-659-2955 for assistance from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., and they may also send an email for help to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

By going to the SBA website, loan applications can be downloaded, printed out, and the completed forms can be mailed to the U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, Texas, 76155.

Many businesses are still hoping for some relief from the Gulf Coast Claims Facility headed by government -appointed Ken Feinberg.

The latest numbers, according to the GCCF, show that they have paid out $349.3 million to 26,448 claimants during their first month administering the fund put in place by BP. They have received more than 68,000 claims thus far.

Several businesses in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores have already been forced to close their doors due to lack of claims payments.