ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the opening of two Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) in Richmond and Screven counties to assist small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations who sustained economic losses caused by Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene.
Beginning Monday, March 17, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the BRCs to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointment.sba.gov. The BRCs hours of operation is listed below.
Business Recovery Center (BRC)
Richmond County
McDuffie Woods Community Center
3431 Old McDuffie Road
Augusta, GA 30906
Opening: Monday, March 17, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Business Recovery Center (BRC)
Screven County
Screven County Library
106 South Community Drive
Sylvania, GA 30467
Opening: Wednesday, March 19, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Hours: Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
“SBA’s Business Recovery Centers have consistently proven their value to business owners following a disaster,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “Business owners can visit these centers to meet face-to-face with specialists who will guide them through the disaster loan application process and connect them with resources to support their recovery.”
The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations impacted by financial losses directly related to these disasters. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amount terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is April 27, 2025.The deadlines to return economic injury applications are June 24, 2025, for Tropical Storm Debby and June 30, 2025, for Hurricane Helene.
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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 www.sba.gov.