SBA Approves $150 Million in Sandy Disaster Loans; Application Deadlines Near

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WASHINGTON — A month after Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast, the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $150 million in low-interest disaster loans to about 2,500 homeowners, renters and businesses in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

If your dry cleaning business was damaged by the storm, there are several ways to apply for SBA disaster relief assistance:

• Apply online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela
• For information about the disaster loan process, or to have an application mailed to you, e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or call 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing)
• Call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to register for federal assistance at 800-621-3362
• To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, register online at www.disasterassistance.gov, or use your mobile device at http://m.fema.gov
• Visit an SBA Small Business Development Center for help in completing loan applications and to gain advice on how to rebuild and grow in the aftermath of the disaster. Locate the nearest center by visit www.sba.gov/local-assistance

The filing deadline for physical property damage is Dec. 31 for businesses in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and Jan. 15 for those in Rhode Island. The economic injury disaster loan application deadline is July 31 for businesses in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and Aug. 14 for those in Rhode Island.

“During the past month, I’ve visited disaster centers and spoken with people who are struggling to reclaim communities and businesses that were devastated by Hurricane Sandy, and I was impressed by their determination to rebuild stronger,” says SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills. “The SBA is there to support the long-term recovery of the disaster areas, and we will make sure that as many people as possible get the help they need to become whole again.”

For more information about SBA disaster loans, visit www.sba.gov/sandy.