***0 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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Release Date: August 24, 2007 Contact: Mark Ihenacho

Release Number: 07-629, MN 10991 Phone: (404) 347-3771

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## SBA Offers Disaster Assistance To Minnesota Businesses Economically Affected By The Collapse Of Interstate 35W Bridge

**WASHINGTON --** Steven Preston, Administrator of the U.S. Small
Business Administration (SBA) announced that low-interest disaster loans
are available to small businesses located in the county of Hennepin and
the neighboring counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Ramsey, Scott,
Sherburne and Wright affected by the collapse of the Interstate 35W
Bridge on August 1, 2007. Administrator Preston took this action
following an August 20, 2007, letter from Minnesota Governor Tim
Pawlenty requesting a SBA disaster declaration.

"We look forward to working with the State of Minnesota in making our
loans available to small businesses that sustained economic injury due
to closure of the bridge," said Administrator Preston. "We will be swift
in our efforts to help the business owners with their working capital
needs."

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. 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 each applicant's financial condition.

"SBA can help these small businesses overcome their economic losses by
offering these working capital loans, but the help cannot start until
they submit a SBA Disaster Loan application to us,"\
said Edward Daum, SBA's Minnesota District Director.

Beginning Monday, August 27, SBA's Customer Service Representatives will
be on hand at the following Disaster Loan Outreach Center to issue loan
applications, answer questions about SBA's Disaster loan program,
explain the application process and help individuals complete their
applications.

The Center will be located in the following community and will open as
indicated:

**[Hennepin County]{.underline}**

Accenture Tower, 4^th^ Floor

333 South 7^th^ Street

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Opens: Monday, August 27, 8:30 a.m.

Hours: Monday -- Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, September 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (**one Saturday only**)

**Closed: Monday, September 3 for Labor Day**

Anyone unable to visit the Center 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 returned to the Center or 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 **[May
22, 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).*