SBA offers loans to Ike victims

Special to The Leader

SACRAMENTO – Low-interest disaster loans are now available to Texas residents and businesses as a result of President Bush’s Federal disaster declaration, announced Sandy K. Baruah, Acting Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The declaration covers the Texas counties of Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Cherokee, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, and Washington.

“The US Small Business Administration is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist homeowners, renters, and businesses of any size with federal disaster loans,” said Acting Administrator Baruah. “Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”

Disaster 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.

Businesses of any size and private non-profit organizations 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 homeowners and businesses 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 most private, non-profit organizations, 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 or non-profit suffered any property damage.

Interest rates can be as low as 2.875 percent for homeowners and renters and 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based upon each applicant’s financial condition.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, victims should first call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 1-800-621-3362. As soon as Federal – State Disaster Recovery Centers are opened throughout the affected area, SBA will provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants. The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is November 12, 2008. The EIDL application deadline is June 13, 2009.