SBA Amends Disaster Declaration; Available to Private Nonprofit Organizations

Special to The Record

Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to certain private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Austin, Brown, Delta, Dewitt, Ellis, Gonzales, Hopkins, Jack, Jones, Orange, Red River, Robertson, San Augustine, Starr, Tarrant, Throckmorton, Waller and Wichita counties following the amendment to President Obama’s May 29, 2015, major disaster declaration for Public Assistance as a result of severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred May 4 - June 22, 2015, announced Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). PNPs that provide essential services of a governmental nature are eligible for assistance.

“PNP organizations should contact Eric Kuntz at (512) 486-6446 online at http://txdps.statetx.us/dem/index.htm to obtain information about applicant briefings.

At the briefings, PNP representatives will need to provide information about their organization,” said Director Tanya N. Garfield of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West.

FEMA will use that information to determine if the PNP provides an “essential governmental service” and is a “critical facility” as defined by law.

If so, FEMA may provide the PNP with a Public Assistance grant for their eligible costs.

If not, FEMA may refer the PNP to SBA for disaster loan assistance.

SBA may lend PNPs up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For certain private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA also offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDLs may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the PNP suffered any property damage.

The interest rate is 2.625 percent with terms up to 30 years. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955 or emailing [email protected]. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339. For more information about SBA’s disaster assistance programs, visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster.