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

***Economic Injury Loans for Small Businesses and Small Agricultural
Cooperatives***

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

**Release Date: August 23, 2007** **Contact:** Mark Ihenacho

**Release Number:** 07-625, NC10961 **Phone:** 404-347-3771

**SBA LOANS AVAILABLE FOLLOWING**

**SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE DISASTER DECLARATION IN NORTH CAROLINA**

**RALEIGH, N.C. -** The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
announces today that federal disaster loans are available to small
businesses and small agricultural cooperatives located in North Carolina
counties of Beaufort, Buncombe, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Davie,
Jones, McDowell, Pamlico, Robeson, Rowan, Scotland, Swain, Washington,
Wilson and contiguous counties of Alexander, Avery, Bertie, Bladen,
Burke, Cabarrus, Carteret, Clay, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Davidson,
Duplin, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Graham, Greene, Haywood, Henderson, Hoke,
Hyde, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Lenoir, Lincoln, Macon, Madison,
Martin, Mitchell, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, Onslow, Pitt, Richmond,
Rutherford, Stanly, Transylvania, Tyrrell, Watauga, Wayne, Wilkes,
Yadkin and Yancey as a result of damages and losses to crops caused by
abnormally low temperatures, frost and freezing conditions\
April 6 - 9, 2007.

"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.

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 Friday from 8
a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from

9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT. 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
[March 27, 2008.]{.underline}**

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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}*