Disaster loan deadline nears

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses affected by the severe storms and flooding that occurred from March 25-28 that Jan. 19, 2010, is the filing deadline for Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

Small businesses and most private non-profit organizations in Jackson, George, Harrison and Stone counties are eligible to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

Loans are available up to $2 million for eligible entities that suffered substantial economic injury from the disaster. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. These loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

The interest rate on these loans is 4 percent, with a maximum term of 30 years. The SBA determines the amount of economic injury and the terms of each loan based on the financial circumstances of the borrower. Eligibility for the program is based on the size and type of business, and its financial resources.

To obtain a loan application, interested business owners should contact the SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired), or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business disaster loan applications can also be downloaded from 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 the SBA’s secure web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ to apply for disaster loans.