SBA Urges Return of Disaster Loan Applications

The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding those with damages from the March 26 through April 13, 2009, storms to return their completed applications as soon as possible. Waiting to file an SBA application could cause unnecessary delays in receiving disaster assistance. The deadline to file for physical damages is June 22, 2009. Victims are urged to complete and return their disaster loan application before the deadline.
 
More than $1 million in U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Loans have been approved for residents and business owners in Georgia. "Currently, 30 disaster home loans and 3 businesses have been approved in the amount of $1,246,300 for affected victims," said Frank Skaggs, Director of Field Operations Center East. 
 
The disaster declaration covers Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Camden, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Tattnall, Tift, Ware, Wheeler and Worth counties in Georgia, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private, non-profit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Calhoun, Candler, Charlton, Clay, Clinch, Cook, Crisp, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Grady, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Laurens, Lee, Liberty, Long, Seminole, Telfair, Terrell, Thomas, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Wayne and Wilcox in Georgia; Henry and Houston in Alabama; and Baker, Columbia, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison and Nassau in Florida.  
 
Many residents and businesses that registered with FEMA for assistance have received an SBA disaster loan application. Completing the loan application and returning it is a crucial step toward disaster recovery. Homeowners and renters unable to obtain a disaster loan from the SBA may be referred to FEMA for grant consideration.  To be eligible for these grants, applicants must submit their SBA loan application even if they do not want a loan. No one is required to accept a loan. To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, please call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
 
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. Businesses of any size and most private non-profit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory and other business assets.