Low-Interest Loans Available For Shelton Fire Victims

Connecticut residents and businesses affected by the fire in Shelton that destroyed personal property and businesses on Jan. 6 can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Acting Administrator Jeanne A. Hulit announced today.

Acting Administrator Hulit made the loans available in response to a letter from Gov. Daniel Malloy on Jan. 21, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA.

The declaration covers Fairfield County and the adjacent counties of Litchfield and New Haven in Connecticut and Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester in New York.

The SBA is strongly committed to providing the people of Connecticut with the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes with federal disaster loans,” said Acting Administrator Hulit. Getting businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”

Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property,” said Frank Skaggs, director of SBAs Field Operations Center East in Atlanta. SBAs customer service representatives are available at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center to answer questions about the disaster loan program and help individuals complete their applications.”

The Center is located in the following community and is open as indicated:

Fairfield County
Shelton City Hall — Room 104 
54 Hill St. 
Shelton, CT 06484

Opens: Wednesday, Jan. 29, 8:30 a.m.

Hours: Wednesday, Jan. 29 – Thursday, Feb. 6, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 1, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (closed Sunday)

Closing: Thursday, Feb. 6, close of business 

Businesses and non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets,” said Bernard Sweeney, SBAs Connecticut district director.

Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, to make improvements that help prevent the risk of future property damage caused by a similar disaster.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes, the 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 physical property damage.

Interest rates are as low as 2.250 percent for homeowners and renters, 2.625 percent for non-profit organizations 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 condition.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBAs secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Individuals and businesses unable to visit the center may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBAs Customer Service Center at 1 – 800-659‑2955 (1 – 800-877‑8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Loan applications can also be downloaded at www.sba.gov/disaster. 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.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is March 25, 2014. The deadline to return economic injury applications is October 24, 2014.

For more information about the SBAs Disaster Loan Program, visit our website at www.sba.gov/disaster.

Keep local reporting alive. Donate.ValleyIndy.org