SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to Alaska residents and business owners affected by a severe storm that caused high winds and flooding that occurred from September 15 - 30, 2012, U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Karen G. Mills announced today. SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster following the denial on December 6 of the state's request for a major disaster declaration.
The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in the boroughs of Denali, Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, and Matanuska-Susitna. SBA assistance is also available in the Regional Education Attendance Areas of Chugach, Copper River, Delta/Greely and Iditarod Area and the Municipality of Anchorage.
"The U. S. Small Business Administration is strongly committed to providing Alaska with the most effective and customer-focused response possible, and we will be there to provide access to federal disaster loans to help finance recovery for residents and businesses affected by the disaster," said Mills. "Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA."
"Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster," said SBA's Alaska District Director Karen N. Forsland. "Beginning January 4, SBA representatives will be on hand at the following Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to issue loan applications, answer questions about SBA's disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each individual complete their application," Forsland continued. The centers will be open on the days and times indicated until further notice. No appointment is necessary.
DISASTER LOAN OUTREACH CENTER SCHEDULES
KENAI PENINSULA
Anchor Point - 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 4-6
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Anchor Point Fire Station
72440 Milo Fritz Road
Anchor Point, AK 99556
Bear Creek - 1-6 p.m. Jan. 10; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 11-12
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Bear Creek Fire Station
13105 Seward Highway
Bear Creek, AK 99664
Kenai - 1-6 p.m. Jan. 7; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 8-9
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Kenai Peninsula Borough Emergency
Response Center
253 Wilson Lane
Soldotna, AK 99669
MATANUSKA-SUSITNA BOROUGH
Willow - 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 4-6
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Willow Community Center
Mile 69 Parks Highway
Willow, AK 99688
Wasilla - 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 7-9
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Cottonwood Public Safety Building
Training Room 2
680 N. Seward Meridian Parkway
Wasilla, AK 99654
Talkeetna - 1-6 p.m. Jan. 10; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 11-12
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
USSI, Inc.
16463 Helena Avenue
Talkeetna, AK 99676
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.
Businesses of any size and private, nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to homeowners and businesses to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size, 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 property damage.
Interest rates can be as low as 1.688 percent for homeowners and renters, 3 percent for private, nonprofit organizations and 4 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA's Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, e-mailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visiting SBA's Web site at http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339.
The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is February 18, 2013. The deadline to return economic injury applications is September 18, 2013.
SBA Field Operations Center - West, P.O. Box 419004, Sacramento, CA 95841
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SBA press release