If people lose hope, you don't make it. Like Seattle Chocolate, many other small businesses in Seattle and throughout central Puget Sound are continuing to rebuild after the 6.8-magnitude temblor in February fractured their buildings, damaged their goods and drove away some of their customers. Many are turning to government programs for aid. Most of the loans feature rates as low as 4 percent, with repayment schedules lasting as long as 30 years, he said. The loans have several uses.
Property owners can borrow money to repair buildings damaged by the temblor.
Small-business owners can use the loans to replace damaged inventories or meet operating expenses until their sales rebound. The deadline for applying for the emergency loans is drawing near. Jenkins is urging business owners to register first and sort out the details later. They tend to have some hidden damage. In Seattle, city officials assembled several aid programs for earthquake-damaged businesses inside the city limits.