SBA Stands Ready to Assist Florida Residents Affected by Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes

WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
Following the announcement of the Presidential disaster declaration in Florida
for several counties affected by the severe storms, flooding and tornadoes which
began on March 26, 2009, Administrator Karen G. Mills of the U.S. Small Business
Administration issued the following statement:

"The U.S. Small Business Administration is strongly committed to providing the
most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist homeowners,
renters, and small businesses with federal disaster loans. Getting our
businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest
priority at SBA."

The disaster declaration covers Calhoun, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Lafayette,
Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Suwannee, Walton and Washington counties
in Florida, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster
Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private, non-profit organizations
in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic
Injury Disaster Loans: Bay, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden,
Gilchrist, Gulf, Jefferson, Leon, Taylor and Wakulla in Florida; Covington,
Escambia, Geneva and Houston, in Alabama; and Brooks, Echols, Lowndes and
Seminole in Georgia.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace
damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to
$40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses and non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million
to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment,
inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help
with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same
type of disaster damage in the future.

For small businesses, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes,
the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs
caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available
regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

Interest rates are as low as 2.187 percent for homeowners and renters and 4
percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set
by the SBA and are based on each applicant`s financial condition.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, victims must first call
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
Additional details on the locations of Disaster Recovery Centers and the loan
application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center
at 1-800-659-2955 or by emailing our customer service center at
disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Victims may also apply for disaster loans from SBA`s secure website at
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is June
29, 2009. The deadline to return economic injury applications is January 28,
2010.

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

Release Number: 09-373, FL 11732 / 11733

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

Copyright Business Wire 2009