How many United States Department of Agriculture hotel loans have defaulted 
in Louisiana and Texas since September 11, 2001?

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Request for Question Clarification by nancylynn-ga on 17 Jun 2004 18:12 PDT

Hi Angie:

I will probably have to call USDA offices in both states to get this information.

It may help me, and the people I contact, if we understand the context
of this question.

Are you hoping to secure a loan for a hotel? Or, are you trying to get
a picture of the economic impact of 9/11 on the hotel business in LA
and TX, etc?

Thanks for any clarification you can offer,

nancylynn-ga
Google Answers Researcher

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Clarification of Question by angie082372-ga on 18 Jun 2004 07:01 PDT

I am trying to determine the impact of 9/11 on the hotel business in
these two states which were secured by the Rural Develpment USDA
secured loans.

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Request for Question Clarification by nancylynn-ga on 20 Jun 2004 17:51 PDT

Thank you for clarifying, Angie. I believe I've found the correct
offices to contact in both states and I'll try them tomorrow.

Are you writing about this for a thesis, or a white paper for work?
Sometimes when sources understand the context for requested
information, they're a bit more expansive, and a little quicker about
looking up that information, too!

Thanks,
nancylynn-ga
Google Answers Researcher

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Request for Question Clarification by nancylynn-ga on 22 Jun 2004 19:22 PDT

Hi Angie:

Just giving you a status update: I've heard back from one state, and I
should have the data from the other state in a day or two.

nancylynn-ga

Hi Angie:

I've now heard back from the two state officials who kindly helped me
with this question:

Carolyn Turner, who is the Freedom of Information Act Coordinator for
Rural Development in Texas, just replied to me this afternoon. She
spoke to the state's "Rural Business Program Director concerning the
number of hotel loans made through our agency that have defaulted
since 9/11/01. We are happy to report that we have no hotel loans that
have defaulted since 9/11/01."

John H. Broussard, Business and Cooperative Programs Director for USDA
Rural Development in Louisiana, wrote me back yesterday, "No hotel
loans financed under the USDA Guaranteed B&I [B&I = Business &
Industry] program in Louisiana have defaulted since 9/11."

So, if you were thinking of pursuing a loan to start up a hotel in
either state, things certainly look promising.

I found the USDA's Rural Development offices for Louisiana and Texas
at these sites:

Rural Business-Cooperative Service
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/bprogs.htm
State & Field Offices:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.html

Just follow the state links there to find information for the precise
state offices that administer such loans, so, if you're interested,
that's how to begin contacting the people and programs that can help
you.

Here's some more information about the USDA's Business and Industry
Guaranteed Loans program:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/busp/b&i_gar.htm

For insight on the impact of 9/11 on tourism in these states, see:

"Overview of International Visitation to Louisiana":
http://www.latour.lsu.edu/presentationfiles/Summit%2004%20International%20Visitors.pdf

The above is a January 14, 2004 report prepared by LaTour (Louisiana
Office of Tourism):
http://www.latour.lsu.edu/index.html
Find more LA tourism reports here:
http://www.latour.lsu.edu/index.html

And:

"The Effects of the Economy and 9/11 on the Travel and Tourism
Industry," a white paper prepared by the Texas Tourism Division,
published on March 7, 2002:
http://www.travel.state.tx.us/tourism/Economic/2001EconomyWhitePaperRev1.pdf

Search Strings:

" 'United States Department of Agriculture' AND building OR business
loans AND hotels"

"USDA hotel loan defaults Louisiana"

"USDA hotel loan defaults Texas"

"impact 9/11 Texas tourism"

"impact 9/11 Louisiana tourism"

I hope my research is of help to you. If you have any questions, or
need help navigating any of the above links, please post a "Request
For Clarification," PRIOR to rating my answer.

Best regards,
nancylynn-ga
Google Answers Researcher