One Month Left to Apply for SBA Disaster Loans for California Small Businesses

SACRAMENTO, California, Sept. 14 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:

Director Tanya N. Garfield of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Disaster Field Operations Center-West today reminded California small businesses of the Oct. 15, 2018, deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for economic injury caused by wildfires, flooding, mudflows and debris flows directly related to the wildfires in Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties that occurred Dec. 4 - Jan. 31, 2018.

According to Garfield, small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. "Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster's impact. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the applicant suffered any property damage," Garfield said.

These low-interest federal disaster loans are available in Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

The interest rate is 3.385 percent for businesses and 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.