SBA disaster loans available to some Idaho nonprofits

April 27--TWIN FALLS -- Private nonprofit organizations in 11 Idaho counties may be eligible for disaster assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

President Donald Trump signed a federal disaster declaration for public assistance related to the severe storms and flooding Feb. 5-27.

The SBA has low-interest disaster loans available for certain nonprofit organizations in Bingham, Cassia, Elmore, Franklin, Gooding, Jefferson, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Twin Falls and Washington counties.

The loan interest rate is 2.5 percent for up to 30 years. Nonprofits have until June 20 to return applications for property damage -- and until Jan. 22, 2018, to return economic injury applications.

Apply online at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Contact Idaho Office of Emergency Management Public Affairs Officer Elizabeth Duncan at 208-258-6595 or eduncan@imd.idaho.gov for information about applicant briefings.

"At the briefings, private nonprofit representatives will need to provide information about their organization," Director Tanya Garfield of SBA's Disaster Field Operations Center-West said in a statement.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will use that information to determine if the private nonprofit provides an "essential governmental service" and is a "critical facility" as defined by law.

If so, the nonprofit may receive a grant from FEMA. If not, FEMA may refer the private nonprofit to SBA for disaster loan assistance.

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