Rep. Mucarsel-Powell Urges Florida Small Businesses Impacted By Coronavirus to Apply for SBA Disaster Assistance Loans

Targeted News Service (Press Releases)

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Florida, issued the following news release:

Last Week, U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26) voted for an $8.3 billion emergency funding bill that allows $1 billion in loans subsidies to help small businesses impacted by the coronavirus. This funding could enable the Small Business Administration (SBA) to issue an estimated $7 billion in low-interest loans to businesses affected by the outbreak.

"I am proud to have voted to make hundreds of millions of dollars available to Florida small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic," said Mucarsel-Powell. "I have been hearing from small business owners and entrepreneurs about the negative impact that this pandemic is having on their bottom line and I urge them to reach out to SBA disaster assistance customer service center immediately."

Process for Accessing SBA's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disaster Relief Lending:

* The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state's or territory's Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration.

* Any such Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance declaration issued by the SBA makes loans available to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations in designated areas of a state or territory to help alleviate economic injury caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

* SBA's Office of Disaster Assistance will coordinate with the state's or territory's Governor to submit the request for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance.

* Once a declaration is made for designated areas within a state, the information on the application process for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance will be made available to all affected communities.

* SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance and can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.

* These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can't be paid because of the disaster's impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses without credit available elsewhere; businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.

* SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower's ability to repay.

* SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government's coordinated response, and the SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible.

For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail [email protected].