ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Region IV Administrator, Ashley Bell is encouraging survivors affected by a tornado and severe storms on April 15, 2018 in North Carolina to register for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and submit completed SBA disaster loan applications to get the help they need.  North Carolina’s Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) is ready to help businesses prepare their disaster loan application.     

The SBA’s low-interest disaster loan program is the primary source of federal funds for long-term recovery for uninsured damages caused by a declared disaster. “We are coordinating recovery efforts with our SBA resource partners along with federal, state and local stakeholders in the declared disaster area to ensure affected survivors receive proper assistance from the SBA,” said Bell.  “Taking time to complete and submit the loan application package to the SBA is an important part of the recovery process.” 

“The Small Business and Technology Development Center Network in North Carolina is reaching out to local businesses to make sure they have access to federal resources to help them recover from the disaster,” said the SBTDC’s State Director, Scott Daugherty. 

Certified business consultants from the SBTDC network are available to assist businesses in completing their disaster loan applications at no cost.  Call (336) 256-9300 or visit www.sbtdc.org for the nearest SBTDC location.    

The disaster declaration covers Guilford and Rockingham counties in North Carolina which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA.  Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Forsyth, Randolph and Stokes in North Carolina; and Henry and Pittsylvania in Virginia. 

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov . 

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA mobile app. If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.  

Additional details on the locations of Disaster Recovery Centers and the loan application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov .   

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 9, 2018.  The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 8, 2019.