SBA Deadline Approaching for Florida Small Businesses to Apply for Working Capital Disaster Loans for 2021 Severe Storms and Flooding

ATLANTA - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding businesses in Florida that
Aug. 15 is the application deadline for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and private nonprofit organizations affected by severe storms and flooding that occurred Sept. 15-19, 2021.

"Businesses that suffered economic losses as a result of the disaster and want to apply for low-interest loans from the SBA are urged to do so before the August 15 deadline," said Kem Fleming, director of SBA Field Operations Center East.

The low-interest disaster loans are available in the counties of Citrus, Hernando, Levy, Marion and Sumter in Florida.

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 2.855 percent for small businesses and
2 percent for private nonprofit organizations, with 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.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s and should apply under SBA declaration # 17271.

Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services), or emailing [email protected]. Loan applications may be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster 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.

The deadline to return economic injury loan applications is Aug. 15, 2022.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start and grow their businesses. It delivers services to people through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.