Over $67 Million Approved in Alabama
The U.S. Small Business Administration urges residents and business owners in Alabama affected by the severe storms, tornadoes, high winds and flooding that occurred from April 15 through May 31, 2011 to return their disaster loan applications for physical damage by July 18.
Currently, 1,185 home and business low-interest disaster loans have been approved in the amount of $67,081,700 for affected survivors. With the July 18 deadline less than one week away, SBA encourages anyone who has not completed their disaster loan application to do so as soon as possible.
"There is a tendency for survivors to discard SBA disaster loan applications because they may not want a loan. However, homeowners and renters may risk missing out on grants by not returning completed applications to SBA," said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA's Field Operations Center East in Atlanta. Those who received SBA applications are encouraged to return them even if they do not want a loan. If the SBA is not able to approve a home loan, the individual may be referred to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for possible grant assistance.
To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585 for people with speech or hearing disabilities. The locations of Disaster Recovery Centers and the loan application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan application forms can be downloaded from www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
Those affected by the disaster may also apply for disaster loans electronically from SBA's website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
The deadline for physical loan applications is July 18, 2011; the deadline for economic injury applications remains January 30, 2012.
For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Program, visit our website at www.sba.gov.
Release Number: 11-549, AL 12545/12546
Contacts:
SBA
Mark Ihenacho, 404-331-0333