***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

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Date:** February 16, 2007 **Contact:** Michael Lampton

**Release Number:** 07-245, NY 10809 **Phone:** 404-347-3771

**SBA DISASTER LOANS AVAILABLE FOLLOWING**

**SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE DISASTER DECLARATION**

**BUFFALO, N.Y. -** The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
announced today that federal disaster loans are available to small
businesses located in the declared primary counties of Allegany,
Chautauqua, Jefferson, Niagara, Ontario and Wyoming and contiguous
counties of Cattaraugus, Erie, Genesee, Lewis, Livingston, Monroe,
Orleans, Oswego, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Steuben, Wayne and Yates in the
State of New York and Erie, McKean, Potter and Warren in the State of
Pennsylvania as a result of damages and losses to crops caused by
excessive rain, flash flooding and flooding that occurred August 1, 2006
and continuing.

"SBA's disaster declaration was issued as a result of a similar action
taken by the Secretary of Agriculture to help farmers recover from
damages and losses to crops," said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field
Operations Center East.

Under this declaration, SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
program is available to farm-related and nonfarm-related small business
concerns and small agricultural cooperatives that suffered economic
injury as a direct result of this disaster. Farmers and ranchers are not
eligible to apply to SBA.

Eligible small businesses may qualify for loans up to \$1.5 million.
These loans are available at a 4 percent interest rate with loan terms
up to 30 years. SBA determines eligibility for the program based on the
size and type of business and its financial resources. Loan amounts and
terms are set by SBA and are based upon each applicant's financial
condition. Under this disaster declaration, SBA cannot provide loans to
agricultural producers.

"SBA can help these small businesses overcome their economic injuries by
offering these working capital loans, but the help cannot start until
they apply," Skaggs added.

Interested business owners should contact SBA's Customer Service Center
by calling 1-800-659-2955\
(1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired), Monday through Saturday from
8 a.m. until 9 p.m. (EST). Business loan applications can also be
downloaded from the SBA's 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.

**Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than
October 2, 2007**

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