SBA opens Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Georgia to assist residents impacted by severe storms

ATLANTA—The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC). The center opened on Friday, July 7, 11 a.m., at the Troup Baptist Association in LaGrange, GA.

SBA’s loan outreach will serve Georgia’s business owners, non-profits, homeowners and renters affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred on March 25-27, 2023. The DLOC will be open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“I encourage anyone who has not applied for a disaster loan to visit the center for one-on-one assistance. Our team is on the ground to help,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.

Administrator Guzman made the loans available in response to a letter from Georgia Gov.
Brian P. Kemp dated June 26, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA.

Businesses and residents in the declared area can now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. The declaration covers Troup County and the adjacent counties of Coweta, Harris, Heard, Meriwether in Georgia; and Chambers and Randolph in Alabama.

Anyone in the affected counties can apply for a disaster loan. SBA’s Customer Service Representatives are also available to answer questions about the disaster loan program, check an application’s status, upload documents and assist with reconsideration requests.

Businesses and private nonprofit organizations 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 working capital disaster loans to help businesses meet the necessary financial obligations. Working capital loan 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.

Interest rates are as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.375 percent for nonprofits and 2.375 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/.

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 800-521-3362.

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, dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services) or send an email to: DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.

Loan applications can also be downloaded fro, sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications mail be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Distribution Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Aug. 28, 2023. The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 28, 2024.