WASHINGTON — The Small Business Administration has made it clear that it will not be forced to hire untrained and inexperienced workers to handle loan processing in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

The agency said it established a disaster reserve corps last year with more than 2,000 trained and experienced staffers to deploy to field its field offices. The reservists are ready to report within 48 hours, according to SBA. Additionally, SBA said has trained non-disaster district office and Office of Capital Access staff to process disaster loan applications and perform other disaster assistance functions should we need them.

An 180,000-square-foot space based in Fort Worth, Texas, will handle the anticipated large volume of applications for disaster relief loans, SBA said. Meanwhile, in response to Hurricane Gustav, the agency has partnered with the State Economic Development Department in Louisiana to establish seven business counseling centers.

The agency's reassurances come following criticism from some who felt SBA was slow to process disaster relief loans after 2005's Hurricane Katrina. As of Sept. 18, more than 98% of net loan approvals from Katrina-impacted businesses after cancellations have been fully disbursed based on each borrower's rebuilding plans and schedules, SBA said.

More than 400 credit unions are SBA-approved lenders.