WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following the designation of eight western Ohio counties as natural disaster areas, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has announced in a press release that small businesses in Butler, Darke, Defiance, Hamilton, Mercer, Paulding, Preble, and Van Wert Counties now have access to federal resources to help offset financial losses resulting from excessive rain and flooding that began on May 1.
According to Shelby County Commissioner Tony Bornhorst, Shelby is not on the list because damage here from flooding was not extensive enough for business owners to qualify to apply for assistance.
“We didn’t meet any criteria, which is fortunate, even though we sure had a lot of water,” he said. No one in the county reported businesses damaged by water and farms didn’t record more than 18 inches of water in fields.
Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses, and private nonprofit organizations in the counties that did qualify can apply for assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, Brown’s release said.
“Small business owners in western Ohio can now access resources needed to recover from this year’s excessive rain and flooding, which may have impacted their businesses through no fault of their own,” Brown wrote. “These loans will help businesses rebuild and get back on their feet.”
Eligible business can borrow up to $2 million to pay fixed debts, payroll, and other bills that would have been paid had there not been excessive rain and flooding. The deadline to apply for these funds is April 12, 2016.
Eligible Ohioans may apply online via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/. Loan application forms can also be obtained by emailing the SBA at [email protected], calling the SBA’s customer service center at 800-659-2955, or downloading the forms at www.sba.gov/disaster. Applicants should mail completed forms to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
