Michigan businesses and residents encouraged to apply for disaster loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration is encouraging Michigan businesses and residents affected by the extreme storms, flooding and tornadoes on June 25-26, 2021, to submit their loan applications for physical damages even if they have not settled with their insurance company.

SBA disaster loans can cover the difference between an insurance settlement and what is needed to fully recover. If a survivor has not settled their insurance claim, SBA will consider making a loan for the total loss up to its loan limits. The insurance settlement will be used to reduce or repay the loan.

“Waiting to file an SBA application could cause unnecessary delays in receiving disaster assistance, and survivors may miss the Sept. 13 application deadline for physical disaster loans. Submitting the loan application is an essential part of the disaster recovery process,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA Field Operations Center East.

As of July 29, the SBA had already approved 84 disaster loans for a total of $2,583,600. There is currently a 17-month payment deferment on all new disaster loans, making the first payment due 18 months from the date of the promissory note.

The declaration covers Washtenaw and Wayne counties, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. In the adjacent counties of Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, and Oakland, Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available.

Businesses of all sizes, non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for physical disaster loans to repair or replace disaster-damaged property, including contents and automobiles. For small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

Interest rates are as low as 2.88 percent for businesses, 2 percent for nonprofit organizations, and 1.625 percent for homeowners and renters, 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 the SBA’s secure website at https://DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s/.

Businesses and individuals may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster.

Completed applications should be 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 Sept. 13, 2021. The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 15, 2022.