SBA Disaster Outreach Centers in North Carolina Are Open Saturday, September 13^th

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Small Business Administration announces today that the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in North Carolina will be open Saturday, September 13^th.

“Due to the amount of physical and economic losses caused by Tropical Storm Fay in North Carolina we want to make it more convenient for victims to get assistance by opening this Saturday, September 13^th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Victims can meet individually with SBA representatives and find out how a low-interest disaster loan can help them recover,” said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center East. After Saturday the Centers will remain open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice.

“Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate,” added Skaggs. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. “The SBA’s customer service representatives are on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to issue loan applications, answer questions about the SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their applications,” said Skaggs.

The Centers are located in the following communities and will open as indicated:

Cabarrus County
Old Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office
25 Corban Avenue
Concord, NC 28025
Hours:		Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
		Saturday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
		Open until further notice
Mecklenburg County
Hal Marshall Annex
618 N. College Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Hours:		Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
		Saturday, Sept. 13th, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
		Open until further notice

Businesses and non-profit organizations of any size 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 also offers mitigation loans to disaster victims up to 20 percent of the verified physical damage. These funds are designed to help borrowers pay for protective measures to minimize damages of the same kind in the future.

For small businesses, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes, the 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 physical property damage.

Interest rates are as low as 2.875 percent for homeowners and renters, and 4 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based upon each applicant’s financial condition.

Individuals and businesses unable to visit one of the Centers in person may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT, or by emailing our customer service center at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be returned to the Center or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX. 76155.

Victims may apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is November 3, 2008. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 4, 2009.

For more information about the SBA’s Disaster Loan Programs, visit our website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.