SBA Offers Help to Hurricane Victims

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The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) has offered low-interest disaster loans for those affected by Hurricane Helene. The group has representatives set up in Lyons to help with the application process.

The Administration has announced that they will be offering loans which do not require any payments or charge interest until 1 year after the loan is dispersed. These loans are open to homeowners, renters, and business owners, and can be applied for prior to applicants’ insurance settlement, as the loan can cover the total loss as long as the applicant agrees to use some of the insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.

U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman commented on the opportunity, saying, “SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help small businesses and residents in Georgia impacted by this disaster in every way possible under President Biden’s disaster declaration for certain affected areas. We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild.”

Individuals in Montgomery, Toombs, Treutlen, and Wheeler are all eligible for this loan. Administration officials are currently staged within the Department of Human Resources office, located at 162 Oxley Drive in Lyons, to help people apply and to answer any questions about the loans from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, and from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday. No appointment is necessary to receive help, and patrons will be assisted on a firstcome, first-served basis.