Owens Urges Upstate Businesses to Apply for Disaster Loans before June 1
WASHINGTON – Today Congressman Bill Owens urged local small businesses in need of financial assistance to apply for federal economic injury disaster loans available in various counties in Northern and Central New York before the June 1st deadline.
“Small businesses and family farmers are the main drivers of our local economy and it is important that they have the tools they need to succeed and spur job growth in Upstate New York,” Owens said. “These low-interest loans will help them recover from damages and crop losses.”
The Small Business Administration (SBA) declared a disaster as a result of excessive rain and below-average temperatures that began on May 16, 2009. The program offers loans up to $2 million with a discounted interest rate of 4 percent. The loans are available for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes.
The SBA declaration includes Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, and Saint Lawrence counties. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Repayment terms can be up to 30 years based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other expenses that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.
Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Those affected by the disaster may apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than June 1, 2010.
Sean Magers
Posted: May 12th, 2010 under Congressional News.