ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the opening of a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Montgomery County. The DLOC will open starting Monday, Oct. 25 at the Twinbrook Library, and operate Monday through Saturday, to provide businesses and residents assistance in submitting a disaster loan application for the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida from Aug. 31 through Sept. 4, 2021.
SBA encourages businesses of all sizes, nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters to visit the closest DLOC in their area for one-on-one assistance with SBA’s Customer Service Representatives to answer questions about the disaster loan program and assist in completing their disaster loan application. The location and hours of the DLOCs are as indicated below:
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Anne Arundel County Anne Arundel Economic Development Annapolis, MD 21401
Opening: Thursday, Oct. 21, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed: Saturday and Sunday
Closes Permanently: Friday, Nov. 5 at 4 p.m.
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Cecil County North East Branch Library North East, MD 21901
Opening: Thursday, Oct. 21, 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Open: Saturdays, Oct. 23 & 30 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Closed: Friday, Oct. 29 Closed: Sundays Closes Permanently: Friday, Nov. 5, 4 p.m.
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Montgomery County Twinbrook Library Rockville, MD 20851
Opening: Monday, Oct. 25, Noon – 6 p.m.
Hours: Monday – Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday – Thursday, Noon – 8 p.m.
Saturday Oct. 30, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Closed: Sundays
Closes Permanently: Friday, Nov. 5, 4 p.m.
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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 declaration covers Anne Arundel, Cecil and Montgomery counties and the adjacent counties of Baltimore, Baltimore City, Calvert, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Prince Georges in Maryland; New Castle in Delaware; Chester and Lancaster in Pennsylvania; and Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun in Virginia.
“Businesses 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,” said SBA’s Maryland District Director Umberger.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
“Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.
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 safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain, or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
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 DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s and should apply under SBA declaration #17229, not for the COVID-19 incident.
Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications may be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster Completed applications should be returned to the center or 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 Dec. 17, 2021. The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 18, 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.