SBA Extending Operation of Buffalo Center Through March 24; Cheektowaga Center Will Close March 16

ATLANTA –The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today announced due to high traffic at its Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Buffalo, it will extend the center’s operations through 4 p.m. Friday, March 24. The DLOC is located at the Delavan Grider Community Center, 877 East Delavan Ave., Buffalo, and is open weekdays 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (SBA’s second DLOC in Cheektowaga will close permanently at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 16.)

The SBA opened the DLOCs to assist New York residents and businesses with losses from Winter Storm Elliott, Dec. 23-28, 2022. The declaration covers Erie County and the adjacent counties of Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Niagara and Wyoming in New York.  

Businesses of all sizes, non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters in any of the declared counties with uninsured or under-insured losses can get help with their application and information about the federal disaster loan program at either Disaster Loan Outreach Center. SBA staff can also check an application’s status, upload documents and assist with reconsideration requests.

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.

The DLOCs are operating as indicated below:

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 DLOC are encouraged to wear a face mask. 

Interest rates are as low as 3.305 percent 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 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 # 17794.

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 April 28, 2023. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Nov. 27, 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 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, 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