SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans available to Arkansas businesses
by February 25, 2019 11:50 am 185 views
Small, non-farm businesses in 18 Arkansas counties and a neighboring county in Mississippi are now eligible to apply for low interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, said Director Tanya N. Garfield of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West.
These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by excessive rain in the following primary counties that occurred Aug. 1 – Nov. 11, 2018.
Primary counties in Arkansas include Arkansas, Lee, St. Francis and White. Neighboring counties that qualify include Cleburne, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Faulkner, Independence, Jackson, Jefferson, Lincoln, Lonoke, Monroe, Phillips, Prairie and Woodruff. Tunica County if the neighboring Mississippi County that is eligible. The deadline to apply for is Oct. 15, 2019.
“SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster,” Garfield said.
Small non-farm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.
“Eligibility for these loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 3.675% for businesses and 2.5 %or private nonprofit organizations, a maximum term of 30 years and are available to small businesses and most private nonprofits without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship,” Garfield said.
By law, SBA makes Economic Injury Disaster Loans available when the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster. It was declared Feb. 13.
Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are not eligible for SBA disaster assistance. Agricultural enterprises should contact the Farm Services Agency about the U.S. Department of Agriculture assistance made available by the Secretary’s declaration.
For SBA applicants, apply online to receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at this link. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance.