SBA Tops $250 Million in Disaster Assistance Loans for California Wildfires

SACRAMENTO, California, Dec. 31 -- 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 announced today that SBA has approved more than $255.5 million in federal disaster loans for California businesses and residents impacted by the wildfires in Butte, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties that occurred Nov. 8-25, 2018. According to Garfield, SBA has approved $10,027,000 for business and $245,562,600 for residents to help rebuild and recover from this disaster.

"SBA's disaster assistance employees are committed to helping businesses and residents rebuild as quickly as possible," said Garfield. Businesses and residents in Butte, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties who sustained damages are encouraged to register prior to the Jan. 11, 2019, deadline with the Federal Emergency Management Agency at www.disasterassistance.gov. "Don't miss out on any assistance you may be entitled to by not registering for help. You don't need to wait for your insurance to settle or obtain a contractor's estimate," she added.

SBA continues to provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants at the following locations on the days and times indicated. No appointment is necessary.

Click here to view tables: https://www.sba.gov/offices/disaster/dfocw/resources/1633716

Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. The SBA can also lend additional funds to help business and residents with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace their damaged or destroyed primary residence. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. These low-interest federal disaster loans are available in the primary counties of Butte, Los Angeles and Ventura.

For small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations of all sizes, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage. These economic injury disaster loans are available in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Plumas, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Sutter, Tehama, Ventura and Yuba counties. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Aug. 12, 2019.

Interest rates can be as low as 3.74 percent for businesses, 2.75 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2 percent for homeowners and renters 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.