Deadline to Apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Is April 14

Disaster Assistance Still Available

ATLANTA, March 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding businesses in Pennsylvania that Economic Injury Disaster Loans are still available to small businesses economically impacted by the severe storms and flooding that occurred on July 5, 2007.

"Businesses that suffered economic losses as a result of the disaster and want to apply for low-interest loans from the SBA are urged to do so before the April 14 deadline," said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center East.

Small businesses in the following counties are eligible to apply: Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Washington, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; contiguous Columbiana County in the State of Ohio; and contiguous Hancock County in the State of West Virginia

Loans are available up to $l.5 million for small businesses that suffered substantial economic injury from the disaster. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. These loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

The interest rate on these loans is 4 percent, with a maximum term of 30 years. The SBA determines the amount of economic injury and the terms of each loan based on the financial circumstances of each borrower.

To obtain a loan application, interested business owners should contact the SBA's Customer Service Center by calling 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT. Business disaster loan applications can also be downloaded from http://www.sba.gov/. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The deadline for economic injury applications is April 14, 2008

For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Programs, visit our website at http://www.sba.gov/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration

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

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

2008-03-14 15:55:28 0313047 PRNEWSWIRE