Small business administrator meets on flood aftermath

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The head of the U.S. Small Business Administration is coming to South Carolina to meet with state officials and small business owners in the aftermath of the state’s disastrous floods.

Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet meets Wednesday with Gov. Nikki Haley and Columbia Mayor Stephen Benjamin to discuss federal disaster assistance efforts.

Contreras-Sweets is also scheduled to tour one of the hard-hit areas known as the Rosewood Crossing Shopping Center. The newly-built mall and surrounding residential areas were flooded after days of heavy rains and several dams failed in the Gills Creek watershed.

She is also visiting a small business disaster recovery center and meeting with local Chamber of Commerce leaders and other officials.