SACRAMENTO, Calif.
– Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to Hawaii businesses and residents as a result of President Trump’s major disaster declaration for individual assistance, U.S. Small Business Administration’s Administrator Linda McMahon announced.
The declaration covers Hawaii County as a result of the Kilauea volcanic eruption and earthquakes that began May 3, 2018.
“SBA is strongly committed to providing Hawaii with the most effective and customer-focused response possible and with access to federal disaster loans to help Hawaii businesses and residents affected by this disaster,” said McMahon. “Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”
Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations 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 businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available to businesses regardless of any property damage.
Disaster 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.
Interest rates can be as low as 3.61 percent for businesses, 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 1.938 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
A Disaster Recovery Center, jointly operated by the state of Hawaii and FEMA opened today, Friday, June 15 at 8 a.m. The DRC is located at the Keaau High School Gymnasium,
16‑725 Keaau‑Pahoa Road, Keaau, HI 96749
and is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm. SBA representatives will provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants at the center.
To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, survivors must first register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency at the Disaster Recovery Center, online at
DisasterAssistance.gov
or by phone at (800) 621-3362 or TTY (800) 462-7585. Additional information and details on the location of disaster recovery center are available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.