SBA Approves Governor Rendell's Disaster Assistance Request for Columbia County

Declaration Makes Assistance Available to Victims in Surrounding Counties

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today that the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved his request for disaster assistance for damages caused by a fire on Oct. 25 in Bloomsburg, Columbia County.

The disaster declaration makes assistance available to fire victims in Columbia, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill and Sullivan counties.

"This is welcome news for the families and businesses impacted by this fire," Governor Rendell said. "Many residents lost homes and their livelihoods in the fire, and a number of the victims lack the resources to cover these losses. SBA assistance can provide low interest loans to help individuals and businesses recover."

Low-interest loans of up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. SBA regulations permit loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property.

Interest rates are as low as 2.56 percent for homeowners and renters, and 4 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant's financial qualifications.

The SBA disaster loan outreach center will be located at the Columbia County Main Street Annex Office Building, Second Floor - 11 W. Main St., Bloomsburg, PA 17815.

The outreach center will be open on Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.; closed on Wednesday, Nov. 11 (in observance of Veterans Day); open again on Thursday, Nov. 12 and Friday, Nov. 13 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon; and Monday, Nov. 16 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the disaster loan outreach center to issue loan applications, answer questions about the disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals to complete their applications.

Individuals and businesses unable to visit the center in person may 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., EDT, or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA Web site 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.

Victims may apply for disaster loans from SBA's secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

More information on disaster assistance in Pennsylvania is available at www.pema.state.pa.us by clicking on "Disaster Assistance" in the left-hand column.

    Media contacts:
    Maria A. Finn, PEMA; 717-651-2009
    Michael Smith, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116