The Small Business Association approved emergency low-interest loans for homeowners, renters and businesses who suffered major damage from the April tornadoes in Southwest Virginia. 

The SBA can now authorize loans of up to $200,000 to homeowners  to repair or restore their homes or property and up to $40,000 to help repair or replace personal items damaged during the tornadoes. In addition, businesses can apply for loans to help repair or replace damaged property and for loss of business.

• Individuals and businesses can obtain information and loan applications 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. to 9 p.m. EST, or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
• Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at 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.
• Virginians may also apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

In addition, a representative of our office will be at Job Fair 2011 today in Abingdon, with information on how to apply for the loans. Job Fair 2011 will be held at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center today (Thursday June 30) from noon to 7pm, and is aimed at Virginians who lost their jobs because of the tornadoes. 

The SBA loans, which will be available to residents of Pulaski and Washington Counties, as well as adjacent counties, including Bland, Giles, Wythe, Carroll, Montgomery, Floyd, Radford, Bristol City, Scott, Grayson, Russell, and Smyth.