SBA Assistance Still Available; Disaster Recovery Centers Transition to Loan Outreach Centers

ATLANTA--(Business Wire)--
The U.S. Small Business Administration announces today that FEMA Disaster
Recovery Centers are transitioning into SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in
Madison and Suwannee counties. The establishment of the Centers demonstrates
SBA`s commitment to ensure that every qualified individual and business receives
the help they need to recover from this disaster.

"Assisting individuals and business owners to recover from a disaster is our
primary mission," said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center
East. "We are encouraging anyone affected by this disaster to visit a Center
while we still have staff here and obtain individual assistance with completing
their loan applications from our representatives."

Many residents and businesses that have registered with FEMA for assistance have
received an SBA disaster loan application. Completing the loan application and
returning it is a crucial step toward disaster recovery. Homeowners and renters
unable to obtain a disaster loan from the SBA may be referred to FEMA for grant
consideration. To be eligible for these grants, applicants must submit their SBA
loan application even if they do not want a loan. No one is required to accept a
loan.

The locations of the Centers are as follows:

SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers(DLOCs)
Madison County Suwannee County
Madison County Emergency Operations Center Hatch Park Community Center
1083 SW Harvey Green Drive 403 SE Craven Street
Madison, FL 32340 Branford, FL 32088
Opens Thursday, May 21 at 8:00 am Opens Thursday, May 21 at 8:00 am
Open Monday-Friday; 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Open Monday-Friday; 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
(closed May 25 for Memorial Day) (closed May 25 for Memorial Day)
Closing Thursday, May 28 at the close of business Closing Thursday, May 28 at the close of business

"Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged
or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000
to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property," Frank Skaggs
added.

Businesses of any size and non-profit organizations in the following counties
may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real
estate, inventory, machinery and equipment. The 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 from occurring in the future.

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

Interest rates are as low as 2.187 percent for homeowners and renters, and 4.000
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.

Anyone unable to visit one of the Centers may obtain information and loan
applications by calling the SBA`s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (or
1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9
p.m. EDT, (Closed in observance of Memorial Day) or by sending an email to
disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications may be downloaded
from www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Applications may be returned to
one of the Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing
and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, Texas, 76155.

Those affected by the disaster may 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: 09-412, FL 11732 / 11733

U.S. Small Business Administration
Mark Ihenacho, 404-331-0333

Copyright Business Wire 2009