Disaster loans offered to small businesses

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding businesses in Maine that Economic Injury Disaster Loans are still available to small businesses economically affected by the nor’easters and flooding that occurred April 15-23, 2007.

“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 March 14, 2008, deadline,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA Field Operations Center East.

Small businesses in the following counties are eligible to apply: Aroostook, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo and Washington. Loans up to $1.5 million are available and 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.

To obtain a loan application, interested business owners should contact the SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Business disaster loan applications can also be downloaded from http:///www.sba.gov.