SBA Disaster Loans Available Following Secretary of Agriculture Disaster Declaration in Ohio

Business Wire, Oct 29, 2008

ATLANTA -- The U.S. Small Business Administration announces today that federal economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes located in the State of Ohio as a result of excessive rains, flooding, flash flooding, hail, frost, lightning, high winds and tornadoes that occurred February 1, 2008 and continuing.

These loans are available in the following counties: Adams, Allen, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Brown, Butler, Champaign, Clermont, Clinton, Coshocton, Crawford, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Gallia, Greene, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Hocking, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Lucas, Madison, Marion, Meigs, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Putnam, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Seneca, Shelby, Scioto, Tuscarawas, Union, Van Wert, Vinton, Warren, Washington, Williams, Wood and Wyandot in the State of Ohio.

"When the 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 assist small businesses and most private, non-profit organizations affected by the same disaster," said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center East.

Under this declaration, the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to farm-related and nonfarm-related small business concerns, small agricultural cooperatives, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. Farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to SBA.

Eligible small businesses and non-profit organizations may qualify for loans up to $2 million. These loans are available at a 4 percent interest rate with loan 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. Under this disaster declaration, the SBA cannot provide loans to agricultural producers.

Disaster victims should contact the SBA's Customer Service Center by calling 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT or by emailing our customer service center at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA's website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Victims may visit SBA's secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ to apply for disaster loans.

Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than June 3, 2009.

For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Programs, visit our website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.> Release Number: 09-044, OH 11481

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