The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding homeowners, renters and businesses that one month remains to submit disaster loan applications for damage caused by severe storms and flooding that occurred October 12, 2006 and continuing. The deadline to file an application for physical damage is December 26, 2006. Homeowners, renters, non-profit organizations and businesses that sustained physical damage in Erie, Genesee, Niagara, and Orleans counties are eligible to apply.

SBA offers loans up to $200,000 to repair disaster damaged primary residences. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to replace personal property such as furniture, appliances and clothing. Loans to businesses of all sizes and non-profit organizations are available up to $1.5 million to repair damage to real estate, machinery, equipment and inventory. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are also available to small businesses unable to pay bills or meet operating expenses because of the disaster.

Interest rates can be as low as 3.125 percent for homeowners and renters and 4.000 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based upon each applicant's financial condition.

Additionally, disaster victims with insurance should not wait for an insurance settlement before applying to SBA. If a victim does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA will consider making a loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay their SBA loan.

SBA also offers mitigation funds to disaster victims who have approved physical loans. SBA's mitigation funds are designed to help borrowers fund protective measures which may prevent damages of the same kind from recurring in the future. To help fund these protective measures, borrowers may request an additional 20 percent of their approved loan amount.

Information services are still available to applicants who may have questions. FEMA individual assistance and mitigation specialists, along with U.S. Small Business Administration customer service representatives, will continue to be available at locations in Erie County.

Hours of Operation: Monday - Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Closed: Thursday, Nov. 23 for Thanksgiving

Erie County

Brighton Golf Club Olmsted Center for the Visually Impaired

70 Brompton Road 1160 Main Street

Tonawanda, NY 14150 Buffalo, NY 14209

The Centers will remain open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6

p.m., until further notice, except for Thanksgiving.

Anyone unable to visit the Centers may obtain an application by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired), Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. until 12 a.m. (midnight) and Sunday from 12 p.m. (noon) until 12 a.m. (midnight) EST. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be returned to the Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX. 76155.

The application deadline for physical damage is December 26, 2006; the deadline for economic injury applications is July 24, 2007.

For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Programs, visit our website at http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance

Source: prnewswire