WASHINGTON – Today, SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced that Maine small businesses affected by the mass shooting in Lewiston on Oct. 25, 2023, may apply for low-interest, long-term Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the U.S. Small Business Administrationhttps://www.sba.gov/person/isabella-casillas-guzman.
Administrator Guzman made the loans available in response to a letter from Governor Janet T. Mills on
Nov. 2, 2023, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA. The declaration covers Androscoggin County and the adjacent counties of Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Oxford, and Sagadahoc in Maine, and applies to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses and private nonprofit organizations. Eligible applicants in the declared area can now apply for low-interest, long-term economic injury disaster loans from the SBA to cover working capital needs as the community recovers.
“SBA stands ready to help Maine’s small business owners impacted by the mass shooting in Lewiston, which tragically took lives and disrupted neighborhoods,” said Administrator Guzman. “With today’s announcement, we stand committed to providing on-the-ground assistance federal economic injury disaster loans to help businesses and communities get the financial support they might need to recover and rebuild their neighborhood businesses.”
To assist businesses affected by the disaster, the SBA will open a Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Lewiston at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 as indicated below:
SBA Business Recovery Center (BRC)
Androscoggin County
Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
Lewiston, ME 04240
Opening: Wednesday, Nov. 8, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sundays
Friday, Nov. 10 in observance of Veterans Day
Permanently Closes: Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 4 p.m.
Customer Service Representatives will be available at the BRC to answer questions about the disaster loan program and help business owners complete their applications.
“The SBA stands ready to assist eligible applicants by offering Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster,” said SBA’s Maine District Director Diane Sturgeon.
Interest rates are 4 % for businesses and 2.375 % for nonprofit organizations, 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 via SBA’s secure website at sba.gov/disaster and should apply under SBA declaration # 20075.
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 economic injury applications is Aug. 6, 2024.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. 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.