Those seeking disaster relief from SBA should visit the county’s Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the Susanville Fire Department, located at 1505 Main St. in Susanville. Photo by Ashley Arey

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SBA offers locals disaster assistance

March 28, 2017March 27, 2017 Sam Williams, Managing Editor assistance, flooding, SBA

Low-cost disaster relief loans for businesses, nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters affected by the storms and flooding that occurred Feb. 1-25 are available from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The filing deadline for physical damage is May 19. The filing deadline for economic injury is Dec. 20.

According to a statement from the SBA, the agency acted under its own authority to declare a disaster in response to a request from the governor’s office on March 17.

Assistance is available in Lassen, Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Monterey, Napa, Plumas, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo and Yuba counties in California and Washoe County in Nevada.

“We’re here to help residents and businesses impacted by the disaster Feb. 1 through 25,” said Sirdon Navarro, a public information officer with the SBA who stopped by the newspaper when the center opened last week in Susanville. “We’re offering low-interest loans to businesses, nonprofits, homeowners and residents. We’re here to help residents, businesses and non profits impacted by the disaster.”

At a March 22 special meeting, the Susanville City Council approved Resolution No. 17-5365 authorizing the city administrator and the fire chief to act as agency representatives for the city in all matters pertaining to state disaster relief. In addition, the city approved the use of the fire hall as the site of the SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Outreach Effort.

Navarro said there is no fee to apply for a loan, and there is no obligation to accept the loan once its been granted.

Three types of loans are available.

Business Physical Disaster Loans of up to $2 million are available to businesses of any size. Private nonprofit organizations such as charities, churches and private universities are also eligible.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans provide up to $2 million in working capital loans to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private, nonprofit organizations. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.

Home Disaster Loans ($200,000 for the repair or replacement of real estate and $40,000 to repair or replace personal property) are available to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and

Susan River flood waters affect a Carroll Street residence during the February storms. Photo submitted

personal property, including automobiles.

Credit requirements and interest rates vary depending upon the borrowers qualifications, but interest rates can be as low as 3.15 percent for businesses, 2.5 percent for private nonprofits and 1.875 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years.

The terms of the loan may run as long as 30 years, but businesses with credit available elsewhere have a maximum seven-year term. The SBA sets the installment payment amount and corresponding maturity based upon each borrower’s ability to pay.

Businesses and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to “repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

Getting SBA disaster help

What you need to know

U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans are the primary source of money to pay for repair or replacement costs not fully covered by insurance or other compensation.
SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters.
Businesses may borrow up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury.
SBA offers low-interest working capital loans (called Economic Injury Disaster Loans) to small businesses, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of all sizes having difficulty meeting obligations as a result of the disaster.
Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence.
Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to replace personal property.

Three ways to apply to the SBA

Apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via the SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Apply in person at any Disaster Loan Outreach Center and receive personal, one-on-one help from an SBA representative. (Lassen County’s Disaster Loan Outreach Center is located at the Susanville Fire Department, 1505 Main St. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

For more information, visit sba.gov/content/current-disaster-declarations or call (800) 659-2955. Individuals who are hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339.