The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened two Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) in Georgia to aid small businesses and private nonprofit organizations affected by Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene. The centers are located in Toombs and Richmond counties.
Starting March 3, SBA customer service representatives will be available at these centers to assist with the disaster loan program. They will provide guidance on the application process and help individuals complete their applications. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments can also be scheduled at appointment.sba.gov.
The Richmond County BRC is situated at Centro Cristiano Oasis VIP on Deans Bridge Road in Augusta, operating Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., while closed on Sundays. The Toombs County BRC is located at the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship on E 1st Street in Vidalia, open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on weekends.
Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA, stated: "SBA’s Business Recovery Centers have consistently proven their value to business owners following a disaster."
The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is accessible for small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs that incurred financial losses due to these disasters. However, it does not extend loans to agricultural producers except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs address working capital needs caused by the disaster even if there was no physical damage. Loans can cover fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other unpaid bills due to the disaster. Loan amounts may reach up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs over terms up to 30 years.
Applications can be submitted online at sba.gov/disaster or inquiries made via phone or email through SBA's Customer Service Center.
Deadlines for economic injury applications are June 24, 2025, for Tropical Storm Debby victims and June 30, 2025, for those impacted by Hurricane Helene.