***Disaster News***![](media/image1.png){width="1.5847222222222221in"
height="0.7277777777777777in"}

***Economic Injury Loans for Small Businesses***

**SBA Disaster Assistance -- Field Operations Center- East - One
Baltimore Place, Suite 300 - Atlanta, GA 30308**

Release Date: June 28, 2007 Contact: Mark Ihenacho

Release Number: 07-521, ME 10903 Phone: (404) 347-3771

Katherine Arno, Maine SBDC

\(207\) 780-4853, karno@maine.edu

**Help Available To Maine Small Businesses**

**With SBA Disaster Loan Applications**

**AUGUSTA, Maine** - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
announces today that small businesses impacted by the Nor\'easter storms
and flooding April 15 - 23, 2007, can get one-on-one assistance from the
Maine Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) in completing their
economic injury disaster loan applications (EIDLs).

\"We consider it important to have partners such as the Maine SBDC to
assist area business owners with completing their SBA disaster business
loan applications. Providing individual help is an important part of
what we do to assist victims recover from a disaster,\" said, Frank
Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center East.

Business owners in the counties of Hancock, Somerset and Washington
counties and neighboring counties of Aroostook, Franklin, Kennebec,
Penobscot, Piscataquis and Waldo in the State of Maine are eligible to
apply for these disaster loans from SBA. The deadline to return economic
injury applications is March 28, 2008.

Eligible small businesses may qualify for loans up to \$1.5 million.
Interest rates are available at 4 percent with loan terms up to 30
years. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts,
payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had
the disaster not occurred. These loans are not intended to replace lost
sales or profits. SBA determines eligibility for the loans based on the
size and type of the business and its financial resources. Loan amounts
and terms are set by SBA and based upon applicant\'s financial
condition.

"Maine SBDC's certified business counselors have significant experience
helping business owners cope with disaster," said Maine SBDC State
Director, John Massaua, "Our staff is now ready to help Maine business
owners in completing their economic injury disaster loan applications.\"

The Centers are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; small
business owners should make an appointment prior to visiting the Center.

**[Bath SBDC]{.underline}** **[Portland SBDC]{.underline}**

Coastal Enterprises, Inc. University of Southern Maine

7 Park Street 68 High St., 2^nd^ Floor

Bath, ME 04605-1711 Portland, ME 04104-9300

Phone: (207) 443-5790 Phone: (207) 780-4949

   

**[Ellsworth SBDC]{.underline}** **[Sanford/Springvale
SBDC]{.underline}**

125 High St. Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission

Ellsworth, ME 04605-1711 21 Bradeen St., Suite 304

Phone: (207) 664-2990 Springvale, ME 04083-1925

  Phone: (207) 324-0316

   

**[Machias SBDC]{.underline}** [**Wiscaset SBDC (Midcoast
East**)]{.underline}

Sunrise County Economic Council Coastal Enterprises, Inc.

1 Stackpole Rd. 36 Water St.

Machias, ME 04654-0679 Wiscasset, ME 04578-0268

Phone: (207) 255-8811 Phone: (207) 882-4340

**-more-**

**Page 2**

**Help Available To Maine Small Businesses**

**With SBA Disaster Loan Applications**

Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than
**[March 14, 2008]{.underline}.**

Anyone unable to visit the Centers may obtain an application by calling
the SBA\'s Customer Service Center at\
1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired) Monday through
Friday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT.
Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website
at
[www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance](http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance).
Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business
Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport
Road, Fort Worth, TX. 76155.

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For more information about the SBA\'s Disaster Loan Programs, visit
[www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance](http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance)[.]{.underline}