Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
SBA Opens Center in Arlington to Assist Victims of Recent Storms, Flooding and Mudslides
Arlington center opens Weds., Aug. 23 on S. Four Mile Run Drive
The following news release is issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration:
CONTACT: Michael Lampton, SBA, (404) 347-3771
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The U.S. Small Business Administration will open a second Disaster Loan Assistance Center, Wednesday, August 23 to assist victims of the recent storms, flooding and mudslides in the declared counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church, in the Commonwealth of Virginia and contiguous District of Columbia and the contiguous counties of Charles, Montgomery and Prince George's in the State of Maryland.
The Center will open Wednesday, August 23 in the following location:
Alexandria City/Arlington County
Arlington Parks and Recreation Building
3700 South Four Mile Run Drive
Arlington, Virginia
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Disaster Loan Assistance Center in Fairfax County will remain open at South County Center, 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, Virginia, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Both Centers will be open one Saturday only, August 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"We thought it was important to have our staff available in a second location to make it convenient for the victims to get the needed assistance. Providing one-on-one assistance is an important part of what we do to help people recover from a disaster," said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center East.
"SBA low-interest loans are available to homeowners, renters and businesses that sustained damages from the storms, flooding and mudslides," Skaggs added. "All storms victims are now eligible to apply for assistance."
SBA offers loans up to $40,000 for renters and homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged personal property such as furniture and clothing. Homeowners are eligible for loans up to $200,000 to repair disaster damaged primary residences. 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 due to the disaster.
Interest rates are as low as 2.937 percent for renters and homeowners 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.
Anyone unable to visit one of the Centers may obtain an application by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired), Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. EDT. Applications may be obtained, completed and returned to the Disaster Loan Assistance Centers or mailed to: U. S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76155. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at www.sba.gov/disaster <file://www.sba.gov/disaster> .
The application deadline for physical damage is October 16, 2006; the deadline for economic injury applications is May 17, 2007.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.
