ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters in Tennessee of the March 15 deadline to apply for physical damage disaster loans. Anyone in the declared counties with damages incurred by the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes on Dec. 10-11, 2021 should apply for the low-interest disaster loan program.
“Waiting to file an SBA application could cause unnecessary delays in receiving disaster assistance, and survivors may miss the application deadline,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA Field Operations Center East. “Submitting the loan application is an essential part of the disaster recovery process.”
The disaster declaration covers Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Obion, Stewart, Sumner, Weakley, and Wilson counties in Tennessee, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for EIDLs: Benton, Cannon, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, DeKalb, Dyer, Hardin, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Macon, Madison, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Trousdale, and Williamson in Tennessee; Allen, Calloway, Christian, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Simpson, and Trigg in Kentucky; and New Madrid and Pemiscot in Missouri.
Also, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that in observance of Presidents’ Day, the SBA Business Recovery Centers in Tennessee will be closed on Monday, Feb. 21, and will resume operations on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 8 a.m. The SBA’s Business Recovery Centers are open as indicated below until further notice:
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SBA Business Recovery Center Davidson County SBA District Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed: Saturday and Sunday
Closed Monday, Feb. 21 in observance of Presidents’ Day |
SBA Business Recovery Center Weakley County Professional Development Center Dresden, TN 38225 Hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed Monday, Feb. 21 in observance of Presidents’ Day |
Customer Service Representatives are available at the BRCs to answer questions about the disaster loan program and to work one-on-one with business owners in completing their applications. 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.
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL 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.
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, elevation, retaining walls, and landscaping to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
Interest rates are as low as 2.83 percent for businesses, 1.875 percent for nonprofit organizations and 1.438 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 # 17310, not for the COVID-19 incident.
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 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services) 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 March 15, 2022. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Oct. 14, 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 www.sba.gov.