Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are not eligible for SBA disaster assistance. Agricultural enterprises should contact the Farm Services Agency (FSA) about the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance made available by the Secretary’s declaration.For information and application forms, call toll-free (800) 659-2955, or visit the SBA’s website at http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Hearing impaired individuals may call (800) 877-8339.The deadline to apply for these loans is October 29, 2007.
Disaster assistance available for small businesses
March 30, 2007
Santa Paula News
Small, non-farm businesses in counties including Ventura County may now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Small, non-farm businesses in counties including Ventura County may now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). These disaster loans offset losses because of reduced revenues caused by extremely low temperatures and freezing conditions that occurred from January 6 through 19, announced Alfred E. Judd, director of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center – West.Small businesses may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) of up to $1.5 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses, which could have been met had the disaster not occurred. “Eligibility for these loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 4%, a maximum term of 30 years, and are restricted to small businesses without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship,” Judd said.By law, SBA makes EIDLs available when the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster. Secretary Mike Johanns declared this disaster at the request of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.This declaration follows the SBA’s January 24 disaster declaration of 40 California counties due to the freeze. So far, the SBA has approved more than $5.4 million in low-interest disaster loans to California small businesses who were financially impacted by the freeze.
