Gov. Tom Corbett Wednesday announced the U.S. Small Business Administration approved his request to declare Armstrong County a disaster area after severe storms and flooding caused significant damage to homes and businesses from August 28 through September 3.

Citizens in Armstrong County, as well as neighboring counties Allegheny, Butler, Clarion, Indiana, Jefferson and Westmoreland, may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans through the SBA Disaster Loan Programs.

Small Business Administration officials, along with local and state officials, conducted damage assessments at the site. The governor used the damage assessment results to support his assistance request to the SBA.

Low-interest loans of up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. SBA regulations permit loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property.

Businesses and nonprofits can borrow up to $2 million to restore damaged or destroyed buildings, inventory, equipment and assets. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial qualifications.

SBA Outreach Centers

The SBA has established a disaster loan outreach center at the Armsdale Administrative Building, 124 Armsdale Road, Kittanning, PA 16201.

The center will be open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through October 3.

SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the disaster loan outreach center to issue loan applications, answer questions about the disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals to complete their applications.

Individuals and businesses unable to visit the center in person may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired), or by sending email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Loan applications are available online.

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 November 25, 2013. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 24, 2014.

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9/30/2013