The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the opening of a Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Jeff Davis County, Georgia, to support small businesses and private nonprofit organizations affected by Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene. The center began operations on February 3.
Customer service representatives at the BRC will provide assistance with the SBA’s disaster loan program, help business owners complete their disaster loan applications, and offer updates on application status. While walk-ins are welcome, appointments can be scheduled in advance through appointment.sba.gov. The BRC is located at the Jeff Davis Recreational Department in Hazlehurst, Georgia.
Eligible businesses and nonprofits can apply for physical disaster loans up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged property and assets. Additionally, applicants may qualify for a loan increase of up to 20% for mitigation improvements such as insulating pipes or installing storm windows.
The SBA also offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to assist with working capital needs like ongoing operating expenses. EIDL assistance is available even if there was no physical damage to property.
Interest rates for these loans are set at 4% for businesses and 3.25% for nonprofits, with terms extending up to 30 years. Payments begin 12 months after the first loan disbursement.
The SBA encourages survivors to apply simultaneously for FEMA grants and low-interest disaster loans from the SBA to aid recovery efforts. "Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster," stated an official release.
For more details on SBA disaster assistance, applicants can contact the Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Telecommunications relay services are available by dialing 7-1-1.
Deadlines for returning applications are February 7, 2025, for physical property damage claims related to both storms. Economic injury applications must be submitted by June 24, 2025, for Tropical Storm Debby and June 30, 2025, for Hurricane Helene.