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SBA Disaster Loans Available in Alabama Following Secretary of Agriculture Disaster Declaration

"These counties are eligible because they are contiguous to one or more primary counties in Mississippi. The Small Business Administration recognizes that disasters do not usually stop at county or state lines. For that reason, counties adjacent to primary counties named in the declaration are included," said to Frank Skaggs, director of SBA's Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.

"When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to assist eligible entities affected by the same disaster," said Skaggs.

Under this declaration, the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquacultural enterprises, farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers are not eligible to apply to SBA. Nurseries are only eligible to apply in drought situations.

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with a 3 percent interest rate for non-profit organizations, 4 percent for small businesses and terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition.

These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA's website at www.sba.gov. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Those affected by the disaster may apply for disaster loans from SBA's secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than October 28, 2011.

For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Programs, visit our website at www.sba.gov.

Release Number: 11-307, MS 12483

U.S. Small Business Administration
Michael Lampton, 404-331-0333