SC 15698 - SBA Adds Counties to the South Carolina Hurricane Florence Declaration; Opens Business Recovery Center in Marlboro County

ATLANTA

- The U.S. Small Business Administration has added more counties to the disaster declaration in

South Carolina

for businesses and residents affected by Hurricane Florence beginning Sept. 8, 2018.

The disaster declaration covers the counties of

Chesterfield

, Dillon,

Georgetown

, Horry, Marion and Marlboro in

South Carolina

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:

Berkeley

,

Charleston

, Darlington, Florence,

Kershaw

,

Lancaster

and Williamsburg in

South Carolina

; and Anson, Brunswick, Columbus, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland and

Union

in

North Carolina

SBA is opening a Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Marlboro County, on Sept. 27 at noon to help businesses impacted by Hurricane Florence.  Other Business Recovery Centers in Horry and Marion counties are already in operation.

SBA representatives at the Centers can provide information about disaster loans, answer questions and assist businesses in completing the SBA application.  The Centers are located as indicated below and will operate until further notice:

Horry County

Conway Chamber of Commerce

203 Main St

Conway, SC 29526

Hours:  Weekdays, 9:00a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Closed:  Sundays

Marion County

County Administration Building

Room 118

2523 East Highway 76

Marion, SC 29571

Hours:  Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Closed: Saturdays and Sundays

Marlboro County

Marlboro County Economic Development Partnership Office

214 E. Market St.

Bennettsville, SC 29512

Opening: Thursday, Sept. 27 at 12 p.m. noon

Hours: Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Closed Saturdays and Sundays

“The SBA is committed to facilitating economic recovery in this disaster.  We want area businesses to have a resource where they can meet individually with SBA representatives and find out how a low-interest disaster loan can help them recover,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.

The SBA offers low-interest, long-term disaster loans for physical damage and working capital.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at

DisasterLoan.sba.gov

.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at

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 e-mail to

disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is

Nov. 20, 2018

.  The deadline to return economic injury applications is

June 21, 2019

.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit

www.sba.gov

.