This was the scene last month in Potter County as wildfires tore through parts of the Panhandle.
Residents and business owners affected by the grassfires on Feb. 27 and 28 can now apply for low-interest Federal disaster loans.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) says those affected by the Willow Creek South Fire Complex and the Tanglewood Fire Complex grassfires are eligible for the low interest loans. SBA acted under its own authority after Governor Rick Perry requested for a disaster declaration on March 10.
"The U. S. Small Business Administration is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist those residents and businesses affected by the wildfires with Federal disaster loans," said Mills. "Getting our businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA."
The disaster declaration also makes the assistance available to those affected in Armstrong, Carson, Castro, Deaf Smith, Moore, Oldham, Potter, Randall and Swisher Counties.
"Low-interest Federal disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, non-profit organizations whose property was damaged or destroyed by the fires," said Calvin Davis, SBA's Lubbock District Director. "Beginning March 15 at 12 p.m., SBA 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, help each individual complete their application and close their approved loans."
The Disaster Loan Outreach Center is at the Randall County Annex at 4111 S. Georgia Street in Amarillo. It opens Tues., March 15 at 12 p.m. The hours of operation are Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. until further notice. No appointment is necessary.
$200,000 in disaster loans are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. For personal property, homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000.
Businesses of any size and private, non-profit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to homeowners and businesses to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
For small businesses and most private, non-profit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
Interest rates can be as low as 2.563 percent for homeowners and renters, 3 percent for private, non profit organizations and 4 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based upon each applicant's financial condition.
Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA's Customer Service Center by calling SBA toll-free at (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA's Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Hearing impaired individuals may call (800) 877-8339.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is May 13, 2011. The deadline to return economic injury applications is December 14, 2011.
For more information, visit SBA's Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.
