More than $33 million in U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Loans have been approved for over 680 residents and business owners in New York who were affected by the storms and flooding occurring from June 26 through July 10, 2006.

"Our efforts to provide rebuilding loans to the people of New York are beginning to pay off," said SBA Field Operations Center East Director Frank Skaggs. "The steps we have taken thus far to enhance our loan processing capabilities are allowing us to approve disaster loans much quicker and enable us to get the needed funds in the hands of those victims needing to repair not only their property but their lives as well."

Anyone with disaster related damages should register first with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA, then complete and return the SBA loan application. "SBA is here to help you with your recovery efforts and we have staff in 12 Loan Assistance Centers to assist affected individuals personally," Skaggs continued, "but you must complete and return the loan applications to get the help you need."

SBA Disaster Loan Assistance Centers

BROOME COUNTY

Town of Union Municipal Bldg.

3111 East Main Street

Endwell NY 13760

Open Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Deposit High School

171 Second Street

Deposit NY 13754

Open Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Susquehanna Valley High School

1040 Conklin Road

Conklin, NY 13748

Opens Monday, Aug 7

Open Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Small Bus. Dev. Center

222 Water Street

Binghamton NY 13901

Opens Monday, Aug 7

Open Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

CHENANGO COUNTY

Town Hall

16 North Street (intersection Rte 206 & Rte 7)

Bainbridge, NY 13733

Open Monday-Friday; 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Fort Plain Senior Center

204 Canal Street

Fort Plain, NY 13339

Opens Monday, Aug 7

Open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

DELAWARE COUNTY

Walton High School

47-49 Stockton Avenue

Walton, NY 13856

Open Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Sidney Civic Center

21 Liberty Street

Sidney, NY 13838

Opens Monday, Aug 7

Open Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

OTSEGO COUNTY

Oneonta Chamber of Commerce

12 Carbon Street

Oneonta NY 13820

Open Monday-Friday; 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

SULLIVAN COUNTY

Livingston Manor Town Hall

95 Main Street

Livingston Manor NY 12758

Open Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

HERKIMER COUNTY

Senior Citizens Center

522 East Main Street

Little Falls, NY 13365

Open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

TIOGA COUNTY

Owego Pennysaver Press

181 Front Street

Owego, NY 13827

Open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The interest rates for these loans are as low as 2.937 percent for homeowners and renters and 4.000 percent for businesses with loan terms up to 30 years. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are available to small businesses unable to pay bills or meet operating expenses because of the disaster with loan limits up to $1.5 million. Actual terms are set by the SBA, and are based on each applicant's financial condition.

Anyone unable to visit one of the Disaster Loan Assistance Centers may obtain an application by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired), Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., EDT. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at http://www.sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be returned to one of the Disaster Loan Assistance Centers or mailed to: the U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Ft. Worth, TX. 76155.

The deadline for returning applications for physical damage is September 1, 2006; the deadline to return economic injury applications is April 3, 2007.

For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Programs, visit our website

at http://www.sba.gov/disaster.

Source: prnewswire