FORT KENT – State and federal emergency management agencies and the U.S. Small Business Administration have opened a disaster recovery center at 416 W. Main St.

A second center is expected to open today at the Van Buren Community Center, at 130 Champlain St.

Both centers will be open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday until further notice.

Aroostook County is eligible for both physical and economic injury disaster loans from the SBA, the agency said. Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset and Washington counties are eligible to apply only for SBA economic injury disaster loans.

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 $1.5 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA said it can lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage in the future.

For small businesses only, the SBA offers economic injury disaster loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury disaster loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, victims are being asked to call FEMA at 800-621-3362. For the location of Disaster Recovery Centers and the loan application process, call the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955.

Residents and business owners who suffered losses in the designated counties also may apply for assistance by registering online at http://www.fema.gov.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 8, 2008. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 9, 2009.

For information about the SBA’s disaster loan programs, visit www.sba.gov.