SBA Extends Deadline for Hurricane Relief Loan Applications

Contractors have until Jan. 3 to apply for SBA loans to recover losses due to the Florida and Alabama hurricanes.

Lauren Spiers

Published December 23, 2004

Fla

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $1 billion in low-interest disaster loans to about 33,600 residents and business owners in the areas affected by the late-summer rash of deadly hurricanes and floods. Business owners in Florida and Alabama are still eligible to receive disaster relieve. The deadline to apply for SBA assistance has been extended to Jan. 3, 2005.

With less than two weeks until the revised filing date, contractors should visit the SBA disaster recovery Web site soon for the appropriate application forms. Also, read through the list of frequently asked questions on SBA loans. below, for more information.

According to the SBA, more than one million disaster loan applications have been issued to residents and business owners in the 14 states and Puerto Rico that suffered losses after four major hurricanes struck the region beginning Aug. 13 with Hurricane Charley. With the extended application deadline, the final loan-making total is expected to surpass the $1 billion mark in disaster loans approved after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The largest disaster ever handled by the agency was the 1994 Northridge, Calif. earthquake when the SBA approved more than $124,000 disaster loans for $4 billion.

"I'm proud of the work the SBA has done and the assistance we've provided to those affected by last summer's hurricanes," said SBA Administrator Hector Barreto. "The public can be assured that we will continue to maintain our presence in the disaster areas, providing the financing to help individuals and small business owners get back on their feet and rebuild their lives."

The SBA makes low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, and non-farm businesses of all sizes. Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 to repair disaster damaged primary residences. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to replace personal property such as furniture and clothing. Loans of up to $1.5 million are available to eligible businesses of all sizes and non-profit organizations to repair damage to real estate, machinery, equipment and inventory. Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $1.5 million are also available to small businesses unable to pay bills or meet operating expenses.

Interest rates can be as low as 3.187 percent for homeowners and renters and 2.9 percent for businesses, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based upon each applicant's financial condition.

To be considered for all forms of federal recovery assistance, disaster victims must first call the Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA at 800/621-3362.

For more information about SBA's disaster assistance program, visit SBA's Web site at http://www.sba.gov/disaster.

FAQs: SBA PHYSICAL DISASTER BUSINESS LOANS

    The Small Business Administration offers the following answers to frequently asked questions regarding small business disaster loans. Loans to rover economic impact on a business, as well as for damage to homeowners' and renters' residences and property also are available through the SBA. FAQs and information regarding those types of loans are available on the SBA Web site.

    Q. I've heard that SBA loan applications are complicated and hard to complete. Is this true?
    A. No. The application form asks you for the same information about the business and its substantial owners and managers that generally is required for a bank loan. If you need help, SBA personnel will explain the forms and give you assistance at no charge. You may use the services of accountants, attorneys or other representatives if you wish, but be sure they are reliable and that their fees are reasonable. You must report the use of a representative and the fees charged on your loan application.

    Q. If I receive a disaster loan, may I spend the money any way I want?
    A. No. The disaster loan is intended to help you return your property to its predisaster condition and, under certain circumstances, for mitigating devices. Normally, SBA funds cannot be used to expand or upgrade a business. If, however, city or county building codes require such upgrading, then you can use the SBA loan for that purpose. Your loan will be made for specific and designated purposes. Remember that the penalty for misusing disaster funds is immediate repayment of one-and-a-half times the original amount of the loan. The SBA requires that you obtain receipts and maintain good records of all loan expenditures as you restore your damaged property, and that you keep these receipts and records for three years.

    Q. I already have a mortgage on my business. Can the SBA refinance my mortgage?
    A. In certain cases, yes. The SBA can refinance all or part of prior mortgages, evidenced by a recorded lien, when the applicant: 1) does not have credit available elsewhere; 2) has suffered substantial, uncompensated disaster damage (40 percent or more of the value of the property); and 3) intends to repair the damage. An SBA loan officer can provide you with more detailed information on your specific situation.

    Q. Is collateral required for these loans?
    A. Loans of $10,000 or less do not require collateral. Loans in excess of $10,000 require the pledging of collateral to the extent it is available. Normally the collateral would consist of a first or second mortgage on the damaged business property. In addition, personal guaranties by the principals of a business are required. The SBA will not decline a loan for lack of collateral, but you must pledge available collateral.

    Q. When will I know if I get the loan?
    A. That depends on when you file a complete SBA loan application. To make a loan, we must estimate the cost of repairing the damage, be satisfied that the business can repay the loan from its operations and take reasonable safeguards to help ensure that the loan is repaid. Since we process applications in the order received, the faster you can return it with all the needed information, the faster we can work on it. We try to make a decision on each application within seven to 21 days. Be sure the information in your application is complete; missing information is the biggest cause of delay.

    Q. How soon can I expect the money?
    A. After we approve the loan, we will tell you what documents are needed to close the loan. Once we receive these documents, we can disburse the funds. Because our disaster loans are subsidized, the SBA provides the money in installments, as you need it to repair or replace the damage.

    Q. Will the SBA check the losses I claim?
    A. Yes. Once you have returned your loan application, an SBA loss verifier will visit you to determine the extent of the damage and the cost to repair or replace it.

    Q. What information do I need to help me complete the loan application form?
    A. Necessary information is specified in the loan application and includes: a) an itemized list of losses with your estimate of the repair or replacement cost of each item; b) a copy of certain federal income tax information (as specified on the application); c) a brief history of the business; and d) personal and business financial statements. A contractor's estimate for repairing structural damage may be desirable, but you may make your own cost estimate if you wish. Remember to sign and date each part of the application; we cannot process it if you omit any form that requires your signature.

    Q. I had to remove debris from my property after the disaster. Can this expense be included in my loan application?
    A. Yes, but your own labor and that of family members cannot be included. Amounts paid to others and any equipment rental can be listed as part of repairs to real estate. Remember that the maximum loan limit on physical damage is $1.5 million, and debris removal is included in that limit.

    Q. I am a farmer. Am I eligible to apply for SBA assistance for damage to my farm?
    A. No, not for damage to farms. However, you may apply to the SBA only for a loan to cover the damage to your home and its contents. It may be in your interest to seek assistance first from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    Q. I would like to get a contractor's estimate for the cost of repairing damage to my business, but I'm having difficulty in finding a contractor. Should I hold up my application until I get the estimate?
    A. No. You might miss the deadline for filing your application by waiting for a contractor's estimate. If you have a contractor's estimate, include it; otherwise include your own. The SBA will verify the damage estimate in your application. The sooner you file a complete application, the faster the SBA can process it.

    Q. Should I wait for my insurance settlement before I file my loan application?
    A. No. Don't miss the filing deadline by waiting for an insurance settlement. The application should be returned to the SBA right away; final insurance information can be added when a settlement is made. We can approve a loan for the total replacement cost; however, you must assign the insurance proceeds to the SBA settlement.

    Q. Must I use my own money or try to borrow from a bank before I come to the SBA?
    A. No. The resources of the business and its principals will be considered in determining the ability of the business to obtain credit elsewhere.

    Q. If my business is completely destroyed, can the SBA lend me money to relocate my business?
    A. Yes. In certain circumstances, limited relocation costs can be included in the loan amount. Whenever relocation is involved, you should contact the SBA disaster office before making any commitments.

    Q. Besides the damage to my property, my business suffered economically from the disaster. Do SBA loans cover these economic losses?
    A. Yes they do, but only if you and your business do not have credit available elsewhere, and your business qualifies as small as defined by the SBA. The same application is used together with a supplementary form for the economic injury. The maximum amount the business and any affiliates may borrow for any one disaster is limited to $1.5 million for both physical damage and economic injury combined. (See SBA Publication DA-3, Economic Injury Disaster Loans for Small Business.)

    Q. Is flood insurance needed to get a loan?
    A. If the business is in a special flood hazard area, or if the disaster damage was caused by flooding, it must have flood insurance before we can disburse a loan. If the business was legally required to maintain flood insurance but did not, then the SBA will not make a disaster loan.

    Source: www.SBA.gov

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