SBA Opens Disaster Loan Outreach Centers; Urges Return of SBA Disaster Loan Applications

-(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Small Business Administration announces today that they are establishing two Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs); one in Carroll County Annex and the other in Stephens County Court House Annex. The establishment of the Centers demonstrates SBA’s commitment to ensure that every qualified individual and business receives the help they need to recover from this disaster.

“Assisting individuals and business owners to recover from a disaster is our primary mission,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA Field Operations Center East. “We are encouraging anyone affected by this disaster to visit a center while we still have staff here and obtain individual assistance with completing their loan applications from our representatives.”

Many residents and businesses that have 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.

The locations of the Centers are as follows:

SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs)
Carroll County			Stephens County
Carroll County Annex			Stephens County Court House Annex
423 College Street			37 West Tugalo Street
Carrollton, GA 30117			Toccoa, GA 30577
Opens: Monday, October 12, 2009 at 8 a.m.			Opens: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 8 a.m.
Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday - Friday			Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday - Friday

“Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property,” Skaggs added.

Businesses of any size and non-profit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, inventory, machinery and equipment. The SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For small businesses and private non-profit organizations of all sizes, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

Interest rates are as low as 2.750 percent for homeowners and renters, and 4.000 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Anyone unable to visit one of the Centers may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (or 1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired) Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT, (including the holiday, Monday October 12) or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications may be downloaded from www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Applications may be returned to one of the Disaster Recovery Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, Texas, 76155.

Georgia residents affected by this disaster may fill out a loan application online by visiting SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is November 23, 2009. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 24, 2010.

-----
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page

Governor Perdue Issues State of Emergency for 17 Georgia Counties

Late this afternoon, after viewing storm damage in Douglas and Paulding counties from the air, Governor Sonny Perdue issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in 17 counties affected by heavy rain and severe weather that passed through Georgia. The counties are Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Crawford, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker counties.

“Mary and I are saddened by the human cost the recent storms have wrought,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “We are currently focused on rescuing victims of the storms targeting Georgia and preventing further damage. State personnel and equipment are being deployed to assist effected communities. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) is coordinating our response and managing the State Operations Center, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Environmental Protection Division (EPD) are deploying boats, high-water vehicles, and testing water. Other state agencies are deploying manpower and additional resources.”
State agency responses include:

Georgia Forestry Commission- Manpower and debris clearance, water tanker for Douglas County Hospital, water tender strike teams for structural fire support

Georgia State Patrol - Law enforcement for traffic control, road closures, helicopters

Department of Transportation - Road closure signs, bridge inspection, detours

Department of Human Services- Hospital coordination, shelter coordination, boil water advisories

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Division- Boats, high water vehicles, manpower, water rescue, dam inspections, haz mat spill assistance, water testing
Department of Agriculture- Large animal evacuations and pet sheltering

Georgia Emergency Management Agency - Response coordination, running State Operations Center, damage reports, public information, situation reports, resource coordination, field response

“The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) will work with state agencies, utility companies and volunteer organizations to coordinate disaster response and recovery activities and serve our citizens,” said GEMA Director Charley English.

GEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities. For more emergency information, visit GEMA's Web site at www.gema.ga.gov. To learn how to prepare for disaster, visit www.ready.ga.gov.
---
Community News You Can Use
Follow us on Twitter: @gafrontpage
www.FayetteFrontPage.com
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
www.PoliticalPotluck.com
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
---

Disaster Loan Outreach Centers Closing June 26

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Centers located in Carrollton, Georgia (Carroll County) and Wrightsville, Georgia (Johnson County) will close Thursday, June 26 at noon. The SBA urges homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations that are disaster victims to visit the Centers before they close to obtain one-on-one assistance and information about the disaster assistance program. The SBA also encourages those victims of the severe storms and flooding that occurred on May 11-12, 2008 who received physical disaster loan applications to return their completed applications by the deadline of July 22, 2008.

  The Centers are located at:

 SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs)

 Bibb County
 Bibb Fire Station # 12
 5565 Bloomfield Road
 Macon, GA 30126
 Open: Monday-Friday
 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

 Carroll County
 Industrial Training Building
 West Georgia Tech College
 166 Independence Drive
 Carrollton GA 30116
 Open: Monday-Wednesday
 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
 Thursday: 9:00 AM -12:00 PM
 Closes: Thu. June 26 at Noon

 Johnson County
 Johnson County School
 150 Trojan Way
 Wrightsville GA 31096
 Open: Monday-Wednesday
 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
 Thursday: 9:00AM-12:00 PM
 Closes: Thu. June 26 at

"We want to express our sincere gratitude to the staff of the Industrial Noon Training Building in Carrollton and the Johnson County School in Wrightsville," said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center East. "By providing the facilities for our Disaster Loan Outreach Center, they have helped disaster victims in their community. We deeply appreciate their generosity."

Anyone unable to visit a Center who has registered with FEMA may obtain an application by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT or by emailing our customer service center at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be returned to one of the Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX. 76155.

The deadline to return physical loan applications is July 22, 2008. The deadline for returning economic injury applications is February 23, 2009.

For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Programs, visit our website at www.sba.gov.

Disaster Recovery Centers in Carrollton and Wrightsville Transition to SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announces today that the Disaster Recovery Centers in Carrollton, Carroll County, and Wrightsville, Johnson County, Georgia will transition into SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers beginning Friday, June 13. The SBA staff at the Centers will continue to provide one-on-one assistance to homeowners, renters, and businesses of any size who received damage from the severe storms and flooding that occurred on May 11 through May 12, 2008.

The establishment of the Disaster Loan Outreach Center demonstrates SBA's commitment to ensure that every qualified individual and business receives the help they need to recover from this disaster. "Assisting individuals to recover from a disaster is our primary mission. We are encouraging anyone affected by this disaster to visit the Centers while we still have staff there and obtain individual assistance with completing their loan applications from our representatives," said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center East.

  The Centers are located in the following communities as follows:

 SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs)

 Carroll County
 Industrial Training Building
 West Georgia Tech College
 166 Independence Drive
 Carrollton GA 30116
 Opens Friday, June 13
 Open Monday-Friday
 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

 Douglas County
 Old Douglas County Courthouse
 6754 Broad Street
 Douglasville GA 30134
 Open Friday
 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
 Closing Friday, June 13 at 6:00 PM

 Johnson County
 Johnson County School
 150 Trojan Way
 Wrightsville GA 31096
 Opens Friday, June 13
 Open Monday-Friday;
 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

 Twiggs County
 Dry Branch Fire Department
 5328 Old Gordon Road
 Dry Branch GA 31020
 Open Friday
 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
 Closing Friday, June 13 at 6:00 PM

 FEMA/SBA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs)

 Bibb County
 Bruce Elementary School         Bloomfield Middle School
 3660 Houston Avenue             4375 Bloomfield Drive
 Macon GA 31206                  Macon GA 31206
 Open Monday-Saturday            Open Monday-Saturday
 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM              8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

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 private non-profit organizations may borrow up to $1.5 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

The SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) for small businesses to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

Interest rates are as low as 2.687 percent for homeowners and renters; and 4.000 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based upon each applicant's financial condition.

The SBA urges anyone who has not registered for assistance to call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), regardless of the status of any insurance claim. FEMA will refer you to the agency best able to meet your disaster-related needs.

Anyone unable to visit a Center who has registered with FEMA may obtain an application by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT or by emailing our customer service center at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be returned to one of the Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX. 76155.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 22, 2008. The filing deadline to return applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) is February 23, 2009.

For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Programs, visit our web site at www.sba.gov.