Special to The SUN
Small nonfarm businesses in Archuleta County and 17 other Colorado counties are eligible to apply for low‑interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), announced Director Tanya N. Garfield of the SBA Disaster Field Operations Center-West.
These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought.
Primary Colorado counties include Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mineral and Rio Grande; neighboring Colorado counties include Chaffee, Costilla, Delta, Huerfano, La Plata, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, Pitkin, Saguache and San Juan; neighboring New Mexico counties include Rio Arriba, San Juan and Taos.
“SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster,” Garfield said.
Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.
“Eligibility for these loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 3.61 percent for businesses and 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations, a maximum term of 30 years, and are available to small businesses and most private nonprofits without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship,” Garfield said.
By law, the SBA makes Economic Injury Disaster Loans available when the U.S. secretary of agriculture designates an agricultural disaster. The secretary declared this disaster on May 25.
Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are not eligible for SBA disaster assistance. Agricultural enterprises should contact the Farm Services Agency about the U.S. Department of Agriculture assistance made available by the secretary’s declaration. However, nurseries are eligible for SBA disaster assistance in drought disasters.A personal loan might be the only way if you find yourself in this situation, at least you are not abroad and in need. Could you imagine having to find sites like https://qvcredit.sg/personal-loans-singapore/ while travelling during an emergency. That would end a happy trip quick.
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s customer service center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The deadline to apply for economic injury is Jan. 25, 2019.
