SBA Opens Three Additional Disaster Loan Outreach Centers

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Small Business Administration announces today that it is establishing three additional Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs); one in Cobb, Douglas and Gwinnett counties. 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 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 to 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 additional 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 Centers locations and hours of operation are:

Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to Open Monday, October 26

Cobb County		Douglas County		Gwinnett County
The Threadmill		Old Douglas County Court House		Mountain Park
5000 Austell/Powder Springs Rd, Suite 120		6754 Broad Street		5055 Five Forks Trickum Road
Austell GA 30106		Douglasville GA 30134		Lilburn GA 30047
Opens: Monday, Oct. 26		Opens: Monday, Oct. 26		Opens: Monday, Oct. 26
Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.		Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.		Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Existing Centers:
Carroll County		Cherokee County		DeKalb County
Carroll County Annex		Cherokee County Parks & Rec. Gym		Browns Mill Recreation Center
423 College Street		7545 Main Street, Building 200		5101 Browns Mill Road
Carrollton GA 30117		Woodstock GA 30188		Lithonia GA 30058
Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.		Open: Mon-Fri; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.		Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closing: Fri., Oct. 23 at close of business
Fulton County		Paulding County		Rockdale County
Fulton County Gov’t Center		Paulding Co. Admin. Bldg.		Rockdale County Gov’t Annex
141 Pryor Street SW		240 Constitution Blvd. 1st Fl		1400 Parker Road
Atlanta GA 30303		Dallas GA 30132		Conyers GA 30094
Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.		Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.		Open: Mon-Fri; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
				Closing: Fri., Oct. 23 at close of business

Locations of the Business Recovery Centers:

SBA Business Recovery Centers

Cobb County		DeKalb County
Powder Springs Library		Wesley Chapel-Wm C. Brown Library
4181 Atlanta Street – Bldg. 1		2861 Wesley Chapel Road
Powder Springs GA 30127		Decatur GA 33034
Open: Mon-Fri; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.		Open: Mon-Thur; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
		Fri; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Douglas County		Fulton County
Douglas County Chamber of Commerce		Government Service Center
6658 Church Street		7741 Roswell Road
Douglasville GA 30134		Atlanta GA 30350
Open: Mon.-Fri; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.		Open: Mon-Fri; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“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 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.

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Ten Counties Added to Assist Georgia Residents Affected by Severe Storms and Flooding

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following the announcement of the Presidential disaster declaration in Georgia for several counties affected by the severe storms and flooding that began on September 18, 2009 additional counties became eligible.

The disaster declaration covers the counties of Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker and for Economic Injury Only the contiguous counties of Banks, Barrow, Butts, Clayton, Dade, Dawson, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Gordon, Habersham, Hall, Haralson, Henry, Jackson, Jasper, Meriwether, Morgan, Pickens, Polk, Spalding, Troup, Walton and Whitfield in the State of Georgia; contiguous counties of Cherokee, Cleburne, DeKalb and Randolph in the State of Alabama; contiguous county of Oconee in the State of South Carolina and the contiguous county of Hamilton in the State of Tennessee.

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 and non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 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 in the future.

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

Interest rates are as low as 2.750 percent for homeowners and renters and 4 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.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the hearing impaired. Additional details on the location of Disaster Recovery Center(s) and the loan application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; EDT or sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

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.

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SBA Stands Ready to Assist Georgia Residents Affected by Severe Storms and Flooding

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following the announcement of the Presidential disaster declaration in Georgia for several counties affected by the severe storms and flooding that began on September 18, 2009, Administrator Karen G. Mills of the U.S. Small Business Administration issued the following statement:

“The U.S. Small Business Administration is strongly committed to providing the people of Georgia with the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist homeowners, renters, and small businesses with federal disaster loans. Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”

The disaster declaration covers Carroll, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, Paulding and Stephens 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: Banks, Bartow, Coweta, Dawson, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Gordon, Habersham, Haralson, Heard, Pickens, Polk and Walker in Georgia; Cherokee, Cleburne and Randolph in Alabama and Oconee in South Carolina.

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 and non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 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 in the future.

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

Interest rates are as low as 2.750 percent for homeowners and renters and 4 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.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The locations of Disaster Recovery Centers and the loan application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday - Sunday, September 26th and 27th from 8 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. EDT or sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

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.

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SBA Disaster Loans Available Following Secretary of Agriculture Disaster Declaration in Georgia

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Small Business Administration announces today that federal economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes located in the State of Georgia as a result of excessive rainfall, flash flooding, severe wind, tornadoes and lightning that began on March 26, 2009.

These loans are available in the following counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Butts, Calhoun, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crawford, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Grady, Houston, Irwin, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Jones, Laurens, Lee, Liberty, Lamar, Lanier, Long, Lowndes, Macon, Marion, McIntosh, Meriwether, Miller, Mitchell, Monroe, Montgomery, Peach, Pierce, Pike, Pulaski, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Screven, Seminole, Spalding Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Upson, Ware, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, Wilcox and Worth in Georgia.

“When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to assist small businesses and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes affected by the same disaster,” said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East.

Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to farm-related and nonfarm-related small business concerns, small agricultural cooperatives and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. Farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to SBA.

Eligible small businesses and non-profit organizations may qualify for loans up to $2 million. These loans are available at a 4 percent interest rate with loan terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. Under this disaster declaration, the SBA cannot provide loans to agricultural producers.

Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained 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 6 p.m. EDT or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Those affected by the disaster may apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than March 22, 2010.

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Do Not Wait For Insurance Settlement; SBA Urges Return of Applications – Deadline to Apply June 22

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding victims in eligible Georgia counties they should not wait to settle with their insurance companies before applying for disaster loan assistance. The SBA encourages victims of the March 26, 2009 through April 13, 2009, storms to return their completed applications, even if they have not settled with their insurance company. Waiting to file an SBA application could cause unnecessary delays in receiving disaster assistance.

“Victims are urged to complete and return their SBA disaster loan application by the June 22 deadline,” said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center East. “SBA is here to help you with your recovery efforts. I encourage anyone who has not completed their disaster loan application to do so and return it as quickly as possible,” Skaggs added.

If a victim does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, the SBA will consider making a loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay their SBA loan.

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, inventory, machinery and equipment and other business assets. The SBA also offers mitigation funds to disaster victims based on 20 percent of the verified physical damage. These funds are designed to help borrowers pay for protective measures to minimize damages of the same kind in the future.

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

Interest rates can be as low as 2.187 percent for homeowners and renters and 4 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.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, victims must first call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).

Victims unable to visit the Centers may obtain applications and program information 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. until 9 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT, or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Victims may visit SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ to apply for disaster loans.

The deadline for physical loan applications is June 22, 2009; the deadline for economic injury applications is January 23, 2010.

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SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Georgia Residents Affected by Severe Storms and Tornadoes

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Georgia residents and businesses affected by severe storms and tornadoes that occurred on February 20, 2009 can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Acting Administrator Darryl Hairston announced today.

Acting Administrator Hairston made the loans available in response to a letter from Governor Sonny Perdue on February 23, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA. The declaration covers Thomas County and the adjacent counties of Brooks, Colquitt, Grady and Mitchell in Georgia, and Jefferson and Leon counties in Florida.

“The SBA is strongly committed to providing the people of Georgia with the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes with federal disaster loans,” said Hairston. “Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”

“Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property,” said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center in Atlanta. SBA’s customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center to issue loan applications, answer questions about the SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their applications.

The Center will be located in the following community and will open as indicated:

Thomas County
Emergency Services Center
1202 Remington Avenue
Thomasville, Georgia 31792

Opening:
Tuesday, March 3

Open weekdays:
Tuesday, March 3 through Thursday, March 12, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Open:
Saturday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Closing:
Thursday, March 12, at the close of business

Terri Denison, SBA’s Georgia District Director, added, “Low-interest Federal disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations of all sizes whose property was damaged or destroyed by the severe storms and tornadoes.”

Businesses and non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. The SBA also provides mitigation funds to disaster victims based on 20 percent of the verified physical damage. These funds are designed to help borrowers pay for protective measures to minimize damages of the same kind in the future.

For small businesses, and most 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 physical property damage.

Interest rates are as low as 2.187% percent for homeowners and renters, and 4 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.

Individuals and businesses unable to visit the Center in person may obtain information and loan applications 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, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST, or by sending an email to 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 the Center or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX. 76155.

Victims may apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is April 27, 2009. The deadline to return economic injury applications is November 26, 2009.

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