Navy Federal Credit Union, through its big Pensacola, Fla. operation, has joined others in the BP oil spill restoration.
Though its direct offer to provide volunteers for beach cleanup has been spurned by BP, like other businesses and agencies, the $40 billion CU has found itself in key Chamber of Commerce groups providing assistance to business committees and others to help stem the loss of tourist dollars.
That's apart from Navy's own efforts to aid members hit by the catastrophe with loan workouts and favorable terms, officials said.
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"When you love your beaches, you want to do something and while BP has taken charge, we feel we know what we need to get the job done," said Debbie Calder, senior vice president of Navy's Greeater Pensocola Operations division supervising 1,450 employees.
As a vice chair of the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, Calder has been helping oversee business recovery efforts with two members of her staff serving on special community units. Janice Kilgore, business continty planner and a former Escambia County safety officer, has been guiding the CU in distributing health status reports, free situation counseling and other information for CU employees and families who live and work in Pensacola.
In addition, this month, William,Dagnall, Navy's lead business accounts officer, has been named to the State of Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program slated to distribute small loans to beleaguered firms.
Navy's own program includes offering $25,000 noninterest small business loans for affected area firms.
"Right now the beaches look pretty good but we know there are plenty of individuals and businesses hurting out there," said Calder who this year won the "Emerging Leader of the Year Award" from the Pensacola Chamber.
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