February 9th Is Deadline To Apply For SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans

ATLANTA--(Business Wire)--
The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding businesses in Maine that
Economic Injury Disaster Loans are still available to small businesses
economically impacted by severe storms and flooding that occurred April 28
through May 14, 2008.

"Businesses that suffered economic losses as a result of the disaster and want
to apply for low-interest loans from the SBA are urged to do so before the
February 9 deadline," said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center
East.

Small businesses in the following counties are eligible to apply: Aroostook,
Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo and Washington in the State of
Maine.

Loans are available up to $l.5 million for small businesses that suffered
substantial economic injury from the disaster. 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. These loans are not intended
to replace lost sales or profits.

The interest rate on these loans is 4 percent, with a maximum term of 30 years.
The SBA determines the amount of economic injury and the terms of each loan
based on the financial circumstances of each borrower.

To obtain a loan application, interested business owners 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 9
a.m. to 9 p.m. EST or by emailing our customer service center at
disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business disaster loan applications can also be
downloaded from 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 apply for disaster loans from SBA`s secure website at
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

The deadline for economic injury applications is February 9, 2009.

For more information about the SBA`s Disaster Loan Programs, visit our website
at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

Release Number: 09-196, ME 11243

U.S. Small Business Administration
Michael Lampton, 404-331-0333

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