Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine September 2017 | Page 45

Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Program If your business or private, nonprofit organization has suffered physical damage or has sustained economic injury as a result of a disaster, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration. If your business—regardless of size—is located in the declared disaster area, you may apply for a long-term, low-interest loan to repair or replace damaged property. Even if your property was not damaged and you are a small business owner or a private, nonprofit organization, you may apply for a working capital loan from the SBA to relieve the economic injury caused by the disaster. Physical Disaster Loans Businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations may apply for a Physical Disaster Loan of up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged real estate, equipment, inventory and fixtures. The loan may be increased by as much as 20 percent of the total amount of physical loss, as verified by SBA, to protect the property against future disasters of the same type. These loans will cover uninsured or under-insured losses. Economic Injury Disaster Loans Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, nonprofit organizations of all sizes suffering substantial economic injury may be eligible for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan of up to $2 million to meet necessary financial obligations – expenses the business would have paid if the disaster had not occurred. Interest Rates The interest rate on both these loans will not exceed 4 percent if you do not have credit available elsewhere. Repayment can be up to 30 years, depending on the business’s ability to repay the loan. For businesses and nonprofit organizations with credit available elsewhere, the interest rate will not exceed 8 percent. SBA determines whether the applicant has credit available elsewhere. Link to Materials • Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Program • Three Step Process – SBA Disaster Loans • SBA Disaster Declaration Forms Application Information Businesses may apply directly to the SBA for possible assistance. The SBA will send an inspector to estimate the cost of your damage, once you have completed and returned your loan application. To learn more about filing for disaster loan assistance online, click here. In order to file a disaster loan application online click here. Click here if you would like to download the forms and mail them to the address provided on the forms. For assistance, please call 1-800-659- 2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail [email protected]. MOMENTUM / August 2017 44