WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts today announced residents and businesses of Dickinson and Riley Counties are eligible for low interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help recover from the severe storms and tornados of June 11, 2008. The loans are available to contiguous counties including: Clay, Geary, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Morris, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Saline, Wabaunsee and Washington.

Senator Roberts saw the destruction firsthand when he visited the area June 12. "I am pleased SBA has acted swiftly to help residents and businesses rebuild," Senator Roberts said. "We are working overtime to make sure that resources are there to help those in need."

According to SBA: Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace their damaged or destroyed primary residence. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses of any size and private non-profit organizations may borrow up to $1.5 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help homeowners and business owners with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For small businesses only, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

There will be outreach centers with SBA customer service representatives in Chapman starting tomorrow and Manhattan starting June 26, 2008. For more information contact SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or by visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Hearing impaired individuals may contact SBA at (800) 877-8339.

The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is August 19, 2008. The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 20, 2009.

The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is August 19, 2008. The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 20, 2009.

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