Low-interest economic injury disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are available to Maine small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses and most private nonprofit organizations affected by the major ice and snow storms between Dec. 15, 2013 and Jan. 10.
Acting SBA Administrator Marianne O’Brien Markowitz made the loans available following a disaster declaration request from Maine Gov. Paul LePage on Feb. 21. The declaration includes York County.
“The Small Business Administration is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible to help small businesses and non-profits in Maine with their federal disaster loans,” said Markowitz in a prepared statement. “Getting businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”
“The SBA can help affected small businesses and nonprofit organizations overcome their economic losses by offering working capital loans, but the help cannot start until they submit an SBA disaster loan application to us,” said Marilyn Geroux, SBA’s Maine district director.
Eligible entities may qualify for loans up to $2 million. The SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by disaster. The rates on these loans are 4 percent for small businesses and 2.625 percent for nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility for the loans based on the size and type of business and its financial resources.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Applications and program information are available by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or 1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Loan applications may also be downloaded from the SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The deadline is Nov. 26.
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