ATLANTA –
The U.S. Small Business Administration has added more counties to the disaster declaration in
Florida
affected by Hurricane Hermine that occurred on Aug. 31 – Sept. 11, 2016.
The disaster declaration now covers the counties of Citrus, Dixie, Hernando, Hillsborough, Leon, Levy,
Manatee
Pasco, Pinellas
Taylor
and
Wakulla
in
Florida
which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Alachua,
DeSoto
,
Franklin
, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Hardee, Jefferson, Lafayette, Liberty,
Madison,
Marion, Polk,
Sarasota,
Sumter, and in
Florida
; Grady and Thomas counties in
Georgia
.
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million for disaster damaged business assets and disaster-related working capital needs. Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners for damaged real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to damaged personal property. Interest rates are as low as 4 percent for businesses and 2.625 percent for nonprofit organizations, and 1.563 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years.
Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase up to 20 percent of their verified physical damages for mitigation purposes. Eligible improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela
.
To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at
www.DisasterAssistance.gov
or download the FEMA mobile app. If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.
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 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to
disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is
Nov. 28, 2016
.
The deadline to return economic injury applications is
June 28, 2017
.