Anchorage Daily News

Federal officials are in the state this week to help Alaskans hurt by spring flooding and ice jams obtain grants and loans to help them recover.

Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration are scheduled to visit Eagle, Tanana, Red Devil and Sleetmute, with visits to other communities to occur later, said William Koontz, a communications specialist with the SBA.

Last week President Obama issued a disaster declaration for parts of Alaska that were flooded during breakup. FEMA provides grants for temporary housing and home repairs, among other services.

For damage to housing, the SBA provides loans of up to $200,000 to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. The SBA separately has loans available for up to $40,000 to homeowners and renters to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, such as cars, furniture or clothes, Koontz said.

For businesses, the SBA provides loans of up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other assets. The SBA also has loan programs for businesses and nonprofits to meet working capital needs caused by a loss of business due to the flooding, he said.

Interest rates can be as low as 2.437 percent for homeowners and renters, and 4 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years. There is no cost to apply, and if the loan is approved there's no obligation to accept it, Koontz said.

Deadlines for applying are Aug. 10 for loans to address physical damage and March 11 for loans to address working capital needs.

The federal disaster declaration covers the Alaska Gateway, Kuspuk, Yukon Flats and Yukon-Koyukuk regional educational attendance areas.

For more information, call 1-800-621-3362.

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