Sacramento, CA – Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to Louisiana residents and business owners affected by the severe weather, flash flooding and tornadoes that occurred from April 27 through April 29, 2011 in Natchitoches and Ouachita Parishes, announced U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Karen G. Mills. SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster following a request received on May 31, 2011 from Governor Bobby Jindal.

The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in the Louisiana parishes of Bienville, Caldwell, De Soto, Grant, Jackson, Lincoln, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, Union, Vernon and Winn.

“The U. S. Small Business Administration is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist those residents and businesses affected by the severe weather, flash flooding and tornadoes with federal disaster loans,” said Mills. “Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”

“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 disaster,” said SBA’s Louisiana District Director Michael Ricks. “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, help each individual complete their application and close their approved loans,” Ricks continued. The centers will be open on the days and times indicated. No appointment is necessary.

Ouachita Parish
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Harvey Benoit Recreation Center
1700 Oaklawn Drive
Monroe, LA 71202

Opens Tuesday, June 7 at 9 am

Mondays and Tuesdays, 9 am to 5:30 pm
Wednesdays, 9 am to 4 pm

Closes Wednesday, June 22

Natchitoches Parish
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office
200 Church Street
Natchitoches, LA 71457

Opens Thursday, June 9 at 9 am

Thursdays, 9 am to 5:30 pm
Fridays, 9 am to 4 pm

Closes Thursday, June 23

Disaster 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.

Businesses of any size and private, non-profit 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 and most private, non-profit 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.

Interest rates can be as low as 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters, 3 percent for private, non profit organizations and 4 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based upon each applicant’s financial condition.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling SBA toll-free at (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Hearing impaired individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is August 1, 2011. The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 2, 2012.

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

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