WISCONSINREPORT.COM (07/21/2012) - Here we are, in the middle of a summer heatwave, which seems to be the perfect time for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to be geared up to give businesses relief from freezing temperatures. Small, nonfarm businesses in 2 Wisconsin counties, 43 Iowa counties and neighboring counties in Illinois, Missouri, and Nebraska are now eligible to apply for low interest federal disaster loans.

"These loans offset economic losses because of the frosts and freezes that occurred in the following primary Iowa counties from April 6 - 30, 2012," announced Alfred E. Judd, Director of SBA's Disaster Field Operations Center-West.

Primary Iowa counties: Audubon, Chickasaw, Clayton, Delaware, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Johnson and Lee;

Neighboring Iowa counties: Adair, Allamakee, Benton, Boone, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Clinton, Crawford, Dallas, Des Moines, Dubuque, Fayette, Floyd, Guthrie, Henry, Howard, Iowa, Jones, Linn, Louisa, Mitchell, Monona, Muscatine, Pottawattamie, Shelby, Van Buren, Washington, Webster and Winneshiek;

Neighboring Illinois counties: Carroll, Hancock and Henderson;

Neighboring Missouri County: Clark;

Neighboring Nebraska counties: Burt and Washington;

Neighboring Wisconsin counties: Crawford and Grant.

"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," Judd 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 (EIDLs) 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 4% for businesses and 3% 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," Judd said.

By law, SBA makes EIDLs available when the U. S. Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster. Secretary Tom Vilsack declared this disaster at the request of Governor Terry Branstad.

Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are not eligible for SBA disaster assistance. Agricultural enterprises should contact the Farm Services Agency (FSA) about the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance made available by the Secretary's declaration.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA's Customer Service Center by calling SBA toll-free at 800.659.2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA's Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call 800.877.8339.

The deadline to apply for these loans is March 11, 2013


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