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SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Mississippi Residents in Greene, Jones and Lamar Counties Affected By Severe Storms and Flooding

Posted on: Wednesday, 22 November 2006, 15:00 CST

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Steven C. Preston, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that low-interest disaster loans will be made to Mississippi residents affected by severe storms and flooding that occurred on November 15 - 16, 2006.

Administrator Preston took this action following a November 16 letter from Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour requesting a disaster declaration by SBA. The declaration covers Greene, Jones and Lamar counties and neighboring counties of Covington, Forrest, George, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Smith and Wayne in the State of Mississippi and Mobile and Washington counties in the State of Alabama.

"We look forward to working with Mississippi and the people affected by severe storms and flooding to make SBA disaster loans available to homeowners, renters and businesses," said Administrator Preston.

Frank Skaggs, Director of Disaster Field Operations Center East said, "Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. SBA Customer Service Representatives will be on hand at the following Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to issue loan applications, answer questions about SBA's disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their applications."

The Centers will be located in the following communities and will open as indicated:

Greene County Jones County Sand Hill Community Center Equal Opportunity Commission Office 39545 Highway 42 22 Mason Street Sand Hill, MS Laurel, MS 39440 Opens: Friday, Nov. 24; Opens: Friday, Nov. 24; 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Open: Monday - Friday; Open: Monday - Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Open: Saturday, Nov. 25; 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. (one Saturday only) Lamar County Sumrall City Hall 4880 US Highway 589 Sumrall, MS 39482 Opens: Friday, Nov. 24; 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Open: Monday - Friday; 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Open: Saturday, Nov. 25; 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. (one Saturday only)

The Centers will remain open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., until further notice.

Janita Stewart, SBA's Mississippi District Director stresses, "These low- interest Federal disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, non-profit organizations whose property was damaged or destroyed by the incident."

Businesses of any size and private non-profit organizations may borrow up to $1.5 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For small businesses only, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

Individuals and businesses unable to visit SBA in person may obtain information and loan applications by calling toll-free (800) 659-2955. Hearing impaired individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is January 22, 2007. The deadline to return economic injury applications is August 22, 2007.

For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Programs,

visit our website at http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

U.S. Small Business Administration

CONTACT: Kathy Cook of U.S. Small Business Administration,+1-404-347-3771

Web site: http://www.sba.gov/

Source: PRNewswire

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