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

WASHINGTON, June 14, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Georgia residents and businesses affected by the severe storms and flooding on June 6, can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills announced today.

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Administrator Mills made the loans available in response to a letter from the governor's authorized representative, Charlie English on June 12, 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 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 Administrator Mills.  "Getting 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 Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.  SBA's customer service representatives are on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center to answer questions about the disaster loan program, explain the process, issue and help individuals complete their applications.

The center is located in the following community and is open as indicated:

Thomas County
Emergency Services Building                                                            
1202 Remington Avenue                                                                   
Thomasville, GA  31792                                                                    
Opens:  Friday, June 15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hours: Saturday, June 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (closed Sunday, June 17)
Monday, June 18 – Thursday, June 21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closing:  Thursday, June 21 at close of business

"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," said Terri Denison, SBA's Georgia district director.

The SBA may increase a loan up to 20 percent of the total amount of disaster damage to real estate and/or leasehold improvements, as verified by SBA, to make improvements that lessen the risk of property damage by future disasters of the same kind.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses and most private nonprofit 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 1.938 percent for homeowners and renters, 3 percent for non-profit organizations 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 deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by sending an email to [email protected]. Loan applications can also be downloaded from www.sba.gov. 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.

Those affected by the disaster may also apply for disaster loans electronically from SBA's website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is August 13, 2012.  The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 14, 2013.

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

Contact: Michael Lampton
Phone: (404) 331-0333

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

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