SBA Adds Counties to the Florida Hurricane Michael Disaster Declaration; Opens Business Recovery Center in Liberty County

ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 19 -- The Small Business Administration's Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:

The U.S. Small Business Administration has added more counties to the disaster declaration in Florida for businesses and residents affected by Hurricane Michael beginning on Oct. 7, 2018.

The disaster declaration covers the counties of Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Taylor, Wakulla and Washington in Florida 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: Dixie, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison and Walton in Florida; Geneva and Houston in Alabama; Decatur, Grady, Seminole and Thomas in Georgia.

SBA is opening a Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Liberty County, on Oct. 19 at 11 a.m. to help businesses impacted by Hurricane Michael. Other Business Recovery Centers in Bay, Franklin, Taylor and Wakulla counties are already in operation.

SBA representatives at the Centers can provide information about disaster loans, answer questions and assist businesses in completing the SBA application. The Centers are located as indicated below and will operate until further notice:

Bay County

(RV Mobile Business Recovery Center)

Bay County City Job Center parking lot

625 Highway 231

Panama City, FL 32405

Hours: Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Closed: Sundays

Franklin County

Franklin County Public Library

311 St. James Ave.

Carrabelle, FL 32322

Hours: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Closed Sundays

Liberty County

Veterans Memorial Civic Center

10561 NW Theo Jacobs Way

Bristol, FL 32321

Opens: Friday, Oct. 19 at 11 a.m.

Hours: Monday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Closed: Sundays

Taylor County

Super Pufft Snacks

700 W. Lance Drive

Perry, FL 32348

Hours: Monday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Closed: Sundays

Wakulla County

Wakulla County Community Center

322 Shadeville Road

Crawfordville, FL 32327

Hours: Monday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Closed: Sundays

Due to the severe damages caused by Hurricane Michael, recovery centers may not immediately open in the disaster area. As a result, disaster survivors may register for federal assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov and apply for SBA disaster loan assistance using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA's secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov. 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 also call 800-621-3362.

Disaster survivors don't have to wait to submit their insurance claim to apply for a SBA disaster loan because we can approve and disburse your loan funds while the claim is pending. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA will consider making a loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay their SBA loan.

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 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, French drain or retaining wall 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 up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property.

Interest rates are as low as 3.675 percent for businesses, 2.5 percent for nonprofit organizations and 2.0 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.

Additional details on the locations of Disaster Recovery Centers and the loan application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Dec. 10, 2018. The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 11, 2019.