Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to California residents and business owners that the Silver and Mountain fires affected, said U. S. Small Business Administration Administrator Karen G. Mills announced Monday.
SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster in response to a request Gov. Edmund G. Brown’s designated representative, Mark Ghilarducci, director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, sent.
The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Riverside County and neighboring counties.
“Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster,” said SBA Santa Ana Acting District Director Rachel Baranick.
Beginning Aug. 27, SBA representatives were to be on hand at a Disaster Loan Outreach Center to issue loan applications, answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process, and help each individual complete their application, he said.
The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays until Sept. 25, at the Banning Community Center, 789 N San Gorgonio Ave.
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.
Businesses of any size 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. SBA can also lend more funds to homeowners and businesses to help make improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
Interest rates can be as low as 1.937 percent for homeowners and renters, 2.875 percent for private, nonprofit organizations and 4 percent for businesses, 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 using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 1-800-659-2955 or e-mailing [email protected]. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call 1-800-877-8339. For more information about SBA’s disaster assistance programs, visit www.sba.gov/disaster.
The deadline to return applications for property damage is Oct. 25. The deadline to return economic injury applications for the Mountain Fire is May 19, 2014, and for the Silver Fire, the deadline is May 26, 2014.
