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Flood relief applications now accepted
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ATLANTA, Ga. - The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding disaster victims that March 11 is the filing deadline for federal economic injury disaster loans that are available to small businesses located in the counties of Grant, Green and Lafayette as a result of excessive rain and flooding beginning Jan. 1, 2008.

"These counties are eligible because they are contiguous to one or more primary counties in the state of Illinois. SBA recognizes that disasters do not usually stop at the county or state lines. For that reason, counties adjacent to primary counties named in the declaration are included," according to Frank Skaggs, director of SBA's Field Operations Center East.

Under this declaration, SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to farm-related and nonfarm-related small business concerns and small agricultural cooperatives that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. Farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to SBA.

Eligible small businesses, and private non-profit organizations may qualify for loans up to $2 million. These loans are available at a 4 percent interest rate with loan terms up to 30 years. SBA determines eligibility for the program based on the size of the entity, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition.

Disaster victims should contact SBA's Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST Saturday (the center is closed Monday, Feb. 16 in observance of President's Day) or by e-mailing the customer service center at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

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