The Small Business Administration wants victims of flood damage to know they have help available in Richland Parish.
The SBA has set up a disaster recover center in the Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office Annex Building at 112D Morgan St., in Rayville. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters. Businesses may borrow up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury. The SBA offers low-interest working capital loans (called Economic Injury Disaster Loans) to small businesses,
small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of all sizes having difficulty meeting obligations as a result of the disaster.
If you are a homeowner or renter, FEMA may refer you to SBA. SBA disaster loans are the primary source of money to pay for repair or replacement costs not fully covered by insurance or other compensation.
Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence and up to $40,000 to replace personal property.
Those interested in pursuing loans from the SBA should begin by registering with FEMA, if you haven’t already done so, by calling 800-621-3362.
Homeowners and renters should submit their SBA disaster loan application, even if they are not sure if they will need or want a loan.
If the SBA cannot approve your application, in most cases they refer you to FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program for possible additional assistance.
After you register with FEMA, there are three ways to apply for aid from the SBA:
• Apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
• Apply in person at any Disaster Recovery Center and receive personal, one-on-one help from an SBA representative. For additional information or to find a location near you visit www.sba.gov/disaster or call 800-659-2955. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call 800-877-8339.
• Apply by mail by completing a paper application and mailing it to the SBA at 14925 Kingsport Road, Ft. Worth, TX 76155-2243.