Disaster Loans Available to Small Businesses in McKean, Potter, Tioga, Warren Counties

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, today announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will make available federal economic injury disaster loans to small businesses and private non-profit organizations located in McKean, Potter, Tioga and Warren counties, as a result of the drought that began on June 26, 2012.

“This past Summer, severe drought had a devastating impact along the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania and further west into McKean and Warren counties, with agriculture and small businesses suffering losses," said Rep. Thompson. “Local businesses impacted and eligible for disaster loan assistance have until July 29, 2013, to apply through the U.S. Small Business Administration.”

When the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to eligible entities affected by the same disaster.

Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities with the exception of aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers. Nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions.

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 3 percent for private non-profit organizations of all sizes and 4 percent for small businesses, with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA’s website at www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.