ATLANTA - The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that due to a steady decrease in activity, the Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Fairfield County, Connecticut will cease operations at close of business on Friday, Dec. 17. SBA opened the Center to provide one-on-one assistance to businesses affected by remnants of Hurricane Ida on Sept. 1-2, 2001.
“I encourage anyone who has not completed their disaster loan application to visit the Center before the closing to meet with a Customer Service Representative for one-on-one assistance,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East.
SBA also extended the deadline for businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters to apply for a physical disaster loan to Jan. 28, 2022. After the BRC closes, disaster survivors may still apply online through the new deadline. Anyone in the declared Connecticut counties with physical property damage due to the remnants of Hurricane Ida on
Sept. 1-2, 2021 should apply for an SBA low-interest disaster loan.
SBA’s Customer Service Representatives at the BRC can answer program questions, assist in completing the SBA application, and help with the reconsideration process. The Business Recovery Center is located and open as indicated below:
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SBA Business Recovery Center Fairfield County Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Afterward, applicants may apply online and call SBA for help. |
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Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA has established protocols to help protect the health and safety of the public. All visitors to the BRCs are encouraged to wear a face mask. |
The disaster declaration covers Fairfield, New Haven and New London counties, including the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribal Nation in Connecticut, 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: Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, Tolland, and Windham in Connecticut; Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester in New York; and Kent and Washington in Rhode Island.
Homeowners and renters may meet with an SBA Customer Service Representative at any FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to get answers to their questions and assistance in applying for a disaster loan. Business owners unable to go to the Business Recovery Center may also visit SBA at the DRCs.
Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a sump pump, elevation, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. 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 for up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates are as low as 2.855 percent for businesses, 2 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.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration #17258.
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.
Businesses and individuals may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.Loan applications can also be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Jan. 28, 2021. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Aug. 1, 2022.
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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 sba.gov.