Disaster assistance is available for small businesses

Small, nonfarm businesses in all 64 Louisiana parishes and neighboring counties in Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas are now eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

“These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by the combined effects of severe storms, tornadoes, severe spring flooding, Tropical Storm Lee, widespread drought and excessive heat that occurred in the entire state of Louisiana beginning January 1, 2011,” announced Alfred E. Judd, Director of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West.

The loans are available in all 64 of Louisiana’s parishes.

“SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster,” Judd said.

Small, nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Dis­aster Loans (EIDLs) of up to $2 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 four percent for businesses and three percent for private, nonprofit organizations, a maximum term of 30 years, and are available to small businesses and most private, nonprofits 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 Tom Vilsack declared this disaster at the request of Governor Bobby Jindal.

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. However, in drought disasters nurseries are eligible for SBA disaster assistance.

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 SBA toll-free at (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.­gov/services/disasterassistance. Individuals who are deaf or have hearing problems may call (800) 877-8339.

The deadline to apply for these loans is June 13, 2012.

For more information, visit SBA’s Web site at www.sb­a.gov/services/disasterassistance or contact the SBA Field Operations Center-West at P.O. Box 419004, Sacramento, CA 95841.

This article was originally published in the October 24, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper