Sacramento, CA – Victor Parker, Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Los Angeles office, announced today that SBA has approved more than $1.3 million in federal disaster loans to help residents and businesses recover from losses caused by the high winds that occurred from November 30 through December 4, 2011.  Parker also reminded individuals and businesses that February 17 is the last day to apply for an SBA disaster loan to repair or replace property damages.

Applicants may apply online using SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.  Disaster loan information and application forms are also available by calling SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.  Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877 8339. 

“Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to disaster impacted homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations in Los Angeles County and the neighboring counties of Kern, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura,” Parker said. 

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace their disaster-damaged primary residence.  Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses of any size and private, nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 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 homeowners and businesses 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, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size, 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.  The deadline to return economic injury applications is September 19, 2012. 

For more information, visit SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov.
SBA Field Operations Center - West, P.O. Box 419004, Sacramento, CA 95841
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