ATLANTA – The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that in accordance with health precautions for Coronavirus (COVID-19), it is reducing in-person recovery processes and emphasizing online and telephone support for those impacted by the March 3 tornadoes and severe storm. Effective today, SBA is suspending operations at the Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Davidson County.
Businesses, nonprofits, homeowners and renters who sustained physical damages or economic impact due to the tornadoes are still able to apply for SBA disaster assistance without going to a physical recovery center. SBA provides alternative ways for anyone who sustained tornado damage to apply for a disaster loan, receive one-on-one application assistance, and have questions answered.
Online Applications:
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at Disasterloan.sba.gov. Anyone applying through the website can also receive one-on-one assistance by calling the SBA helpdesk and speaking with a customer service representative.
SBA Helpdesk:
1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), operating hours are currently 8:00 am – 8:00 pm EST Monday thru Sunday (7 days per week) until further notice.
Email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
For questions, support with online applications or to request a mail-in application, call or email SBA’s Customer Service Center. Loan applications can also be downloaded at 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.
“SBA remains committed to providing Tennessee businesses and residents with the most effective response possible to the March 3 tornadoes. To further protect the health and safety of the community and SBA personnel, we are taking precautions while still delivering access to our disaster loan program, explained Kem Fleming, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.
“SBA is just a mouse click or telephone call away for Tennesseans,” said LaTanya Channel, SBA district director, Tennessee. “It is so important for Tennesseans to apply using the online and telephone support system.”
The disaster declaration for severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding on March 3, 2020, covers Davidson, Putnam and Wilson counties in Tennessee 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: Cannon, Cheatham, Cumberland, Dekalb, Fentress, Jackson, Overton, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, White and Williamson in Tennessee.
Businesses and private non-profit organizations of any size may qualify for loans up to $2 million. The SBA offers economic injury loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Eligibility for these working capital loans are based on the size and type of business and its financial resources. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates are as low as 3.75 percent for businesses, 2.75 percent for nonprofit organizations and 1.563 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage from the tornadoes of March 3 is May 4, 2020. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Dec. 7, 2020.
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.