NEWS RELEASE: SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Missouri Residents and Businesses Affected by May 1-3 Severe Storms and Tornadoes

SACRAMENTO - Jovita Carranza, Acting Administrator of the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA), announced that low-interest disaster loans are now available to residents and businesses affected by the severe storms and tornadoes that occurred May 1 through May 3 in Clay County.

Alfred E. Judd, Director of SBAs Disaster Field Operations Center-West, said that SBA acted under its own authority to declare these counties a disaster area in response to a June 30 request from the state, following the denial of the states appeal for a major disaster declaration.

By declaring a disaster, Acting Administrator Carranzas action makes SBA assistance available. The declaration covers the Missouri counties of Clay, Clinton, Jackson, Platte and Ray, and the neighboring Kansas county of Wyandotte.

We look forward to working with Missouri and the people affected by the severe storms and tornadoes to make SBA disaster loans available to homeowners, renters and businesses, said Acting Administrator Carranza.

Low-interest Federal disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, non-profit organizations whose property was damaged or destroyed by the severe storms and tornadoes, said Gary Cook, SBAs Kansas City District Director. SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the following Disaster Loan Outreach Center beginning Tuesday, July 8, at 1 pm, and on the days and times indicated. These customer service representatives will issue loan applications, answer questions about SBAs disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each individual complete their application, Cook continued. Clay County Gladstone Community Center 6901 N. Holmes Road Gladstone, MO Mondays through Fridays 9 am - 6 pm Beginning Tuesday, July 8, at 1 pm through Thursday, July 24Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace their damaged or destroyed primary residence. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses of any size and private non-profit organizations may borrow 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 homeowners and business owners with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For small businesses and some private non-profit organizations, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

Individuals and business owners may also obtain information by calling SBAs Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBAs website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Hearing impaired individuals may contact SBA at (800) 877‑8339.

The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is September 2, 2008. The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 3, 2009.

For more information visit SBAs website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

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SBA Field Operations Center - West, P.O. Box 419004, Sacramento, CA 95841