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

ATLANTA--(Business Wire)--
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 Florida as a result of very cold weather and freezing temperatures
that occurred from January 20 through February 6, 2009.

These loans are available in the following counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford,
Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Duval,
Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands,
Hillsborough, Indiana River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin,
Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas,
Polk, Putnam, Saint Johns, Saint Lucie, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, Suwannee,
Union and Volusia.

"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`s 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. EDT, or by sending an email to
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 Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ to
apply for disaster loans.

Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than December 28,
2009.

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

Release Number: 09-416, FL 11739

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

Copyright Business Wire 2009