The Small Business Administration (SBA) is hosting a meeting with business owners and residents at First Lutheran Church in Blair to offer assistance to those who have suffered property damage or economic loss from severe storms in late April. Marielle Alipio, the Director of the SBA Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience, emphasized that these disaster loan outreach centers are an essential part of the long-term recovery efforts for Nebraska residents affected by the storms.
Following the storms, FEMA opened two disaster recovery centers and the SBA opened a business recovery center in Nebraska. Recently, the Blair disaster recovery center was converted into an SBA disaster loan outreach center to provide face-to-face assistance to storm victims as loan application deadlines approach. Alipio highlighted the importance of providing responsive customer service to answer any questions about the SBA’s disaster loan program.
The SBA offers three types of disaster loans with no interest accrual for the first 12 months and low interest rates. Residents of Douglas and Washington Counties are eligible for business physical disaster loans and home disaster loans to replace damaged property. Businesses of any size, as well as private, non-profit organizations including churches and private universities, can access business physical disaster loans.
Nebraskans from Burt, Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders, and Washington counties may qualify for economic injury disaster loans to help small businesses meet financial obligations impacted by the April storms. The SBA also provides an additional 20% of the approved loan amount for hazard mitigation services, such as upgrading building materials or adding protective measures like sump pumps.
The deadline for physical damage loan applications is July 15 while economic injury loan applications are available until February 3rd, 2025. The SBA remains committed to assisting storm victims in their recovery process and ensuring access to essential resources for rebuilding and economic stability.
