Federal assistance now available

Jun 25, 2014 at 07:07 am by Observer-Review


Federal assistance now available   ADVERTISEMENT

Federal assistance now available

YATES COUNTY—New York residents and businesses affected by flash flooding May 15-17, can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet announced Friday, June 20.
Contreras-Sweet made the loans available in response to a letter from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo Monday, June 16, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA. The declaration covers Yates County and the adjacent counties of Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca and Steuben in New York.
“The SBA is strongly committed to providing the people of New York with the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes with federal disaster loans,” said Contreras-Sweet. “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 available at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center to answer questions about the disaster loan program and help individuals complete their applications.
The center is located at the Keuka Housing Council at 160 Main St. in Penn Yan. It opened Tuesday, June 24 and will run through Wednesday, July 2 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will also be open Saturday, June 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., but closed Sunday, June 29.
“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 SBA Buffalo, New York District Director Franklin J. Sciortino.
Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, to make improvements that help prevent the risk of future property damage caused by a similar disaster.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture 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 2.188 percent for homeowners and renters, 2.625 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.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Individuals and businesses may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded at www.sba.gov/disaster. 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.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Aug. 18.  The deadline to return economic injury applications March 19, 2015.

 

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