ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today it is permanently closing its Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Newton County, Georgia, on Friday, Feb. 24, due to building renovations previously scheduled by the hosting site. Also, SBA’s center in Henry County will be closed on Monday, Feb. 20, due to the hosting site’s observance of Presidents Day. All other SBA Business Recovery Centers in Georgia will be open Monday.
Anyone in the declared Georgia counties with losses from the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes on Jan. 12 should apply for the disaster loan program before the March 17 deadline. As of today, the SBA had approved a total of $3,342,900 to fund 93 disaster loans in Georgia.
Disaster survivors with insurance should not wait for their settlement before applying to the SBA. The SBA can make a loan for the total loss and use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.
SBA’s friendly and knowledgeable Customer Service Representatives at the Business Recovery Centers are available to provide one-on-one assistance to business owners and residents by inputting applications, answering questions, uploading documents, checking an application’s status, and assisting with reconsideration requests. The SBA is operating five Business Recovery Centers across the affected counties as indicated below:
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Business Recovery Center Henry County
Locust Grove Public Library Locust Grove, GA 30248
Hours: Monday and Thursday, noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Holiday Closure: Monday, Feb. 20
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Business Recovery Center Jasper County
New Rocky Creek Baptist Church Mansfield, GA 30055
Hours: Monday to Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
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Business Recovery Center Newton County
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Permanently Closing: Friday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.
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Business Recovery Center Spalding County
Spalding Senior Center Griffin, GA 30223
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
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Business Recovery Center Troup County
William Griggs Recreation Center LaGrange, GA 30241
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 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.
Interest rates are as low as 3.305 for businesses, 2.375 percent for nonprofit organizations, and 2.313 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 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 now include a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
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 # 17761.
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.
Disaster loan information and application forms can also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 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 sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded from 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 17, 2023. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Oct. 16, 2023.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
Recently, U.S. SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced a policy change granting 12 months of no payments and 0 percent interest. This pertains to all disaster loans approved in response to disasters declared on or after Sept. 21, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023. This policy change will benefit disaster survivors and help them to decrease the overall cost of recovery by reducing the amount of accrued interest they must repay. Details are available through the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. Individuals with verbal or hearing impairments may dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday, or email: DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.
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 www.sba.gov.