ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding businesses of all sizes, private
nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters in Mississippi of the Dec. 21 deadline to apply for
physical damage disaster loans. Anyone in the declared counties with damages affected by Hurricane
Ida from Aug. 28 through Sept. 1, 2021, should apply for the low-interest disaster loan program.
“Waiting to file an SBA application could cause unnecessary delays in receiving disaster assistance, and
survivors may miss the application deadline. Submitting the loan application is an essential part of the
disaster recovery process,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA Field Operations Center East.
The disaster declaration covers Amite, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River, Pike, Walthall and
Wilkinson in Mississippi, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from
the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following
adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Adams, Forrest,
Franklin, George, Lamar, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Stone in Mississippi; Mobile in Alabama; and
parishes of Concordia, East Feliciana, Saint Helena, Saint Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington and West
Feliciana in Louisiana.
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or
replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other
business assets. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical
damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include
a sump pump, elevation, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from
future damage caused by a similar disaster.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and
most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers 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.
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged or
destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace
disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates are as low as 2.855 percent for businesses, 2 percent for nonprofit organizations
and 1.563 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 SBA’s secure website at
https://DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration # 17234, not for
the COVID 19 incident.
Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer
Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by emailing
[email protected]. Loan applications may be downloaded at 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 Dec. 21, 2021. The deadline
to return economic injury applications is July 22, 2022.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the
only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the
SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start,
grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an
extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn
more, visit sba.gov.