SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Businesses and Residents in Central Alabama Affected by October Severe Storms and Flooding  

NEWS RELEASE

Disaster Field Operations Center East 

Release Date: Dec. 23, 2021 Contact: Michael Lampton (404) 331-0333  Michael.Lampton@sba.gov 

Release Number: 22-110, AL 17289/17290 Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Blogs & Instagram 

WASHINGTON – Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are  available to businesses and residents in Alabama following the announcement of a Presidential  disaster declaration due to severe storms and flooding on Oct. 6 - 7, 2021. 

“SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help Alabama small businesses and residents impacted by  this disaster in every way possible under President Biden’s disaster declaration for certain affected  areas,“ said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal  disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and  communities recover and rebuild.” 

The disaster declaration covers Jefferson and Shelby counties in Alabama, which are eligible for both  Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit  organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury  Disaster Loans: Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Coosa, Saint Clair, Talladega, Tuscaloosa and Walker in Alabama.  

Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or  replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other  business assets. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical  damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include  a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, elevation, retaining walls, and landscaping to help protect  property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster. 

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and  most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet  working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster 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 2.855 percent for businesses, 2 percent for nonprofit organizations and  1.563 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/, and should apply under SBA declaration #17289, not for  the COVID-19 incident.

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 800-621-3362.  

Businesses and individuals may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s  Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded at  sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration,  Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. 

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Feb. 21, 2022. The deadline  to return economic injury applications is Sept. 21, 2022. 

About the U.S. Small Business Administration 

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only  go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA  empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow  or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive  network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit  sba.gov.