The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced an extension of the Business Recovery Center (BRC) closure deadline to May 6. This extension applies to disaster loans for businesses affected by sinkholes on Interstate 80, which occurred on December 26, 2024.
SBA customer service representatives will be available at the BRC to address inquiries regarding the SBA's disaster loan program. They will also guide applicants through the process and assist with completing applications. The center accepts walk-ins and appointments can be scheduled in advance at appointment.sba.gov.
The Business Recovery Center is located within the Wharton Municipal Building at 10 Robert Street, Wharton, NJ 07885. It operates Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The center is closed on Sundays and will permanently close on Tuesday, May 6, at 4 p.m.
According to Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA, “SBA’s Business Recovery Centers have consistently proven their value to business owners following a disaster. Business owners can visit these centers to meet face-to-face with specialists who will guide them through the disaster loan application process and connect them with resources to support their recovery.”
The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is accessible to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and private nonprofit organizations suffering financial losses directly linked to the disaster. However, the program does not extend to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs aim to fulfill working capital needs resulting from the disaster. These loans are available even if the small business or nonprofit did not endure physical damage, and can be used to cover fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other unpaid bills due to the disaster.
Eligible small businesses and nonprofits may apply for business physical disaster loans with borrowing limits up to $2 million. These loans cater to the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Interest rates for businesses start at 4% and for nonprofits at 3.625%, with terms extending up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not required until 12 months after the initial loan disbursement. Loan amounts and terms are determined by each applicant’s financial condition.
Applications and additional disaster assistance information are available online at sba.gov/disaster. Alternatively, applicants can contact the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Assistance is also available for those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability via telecommunications relay services by dialing 7-1-1.
The deadline for submitting economic injury applications is January 2, 2026.
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