Disaster Field Operations Center East
Release Date: July 8, 2022 Contact: Michael Lampton (404) 331-0333
Michael.Lampton@sba.gov
Release Number: 22-316, MS 17503/17504
SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Mississippi Businesses and Residents
Affected by Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds and Tornadoes
WASHINGTON (SBA)– Mississippi businesses and residents affected by severe storms, straight-line winds and
tornadoes that occurred on March 30, may apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small
Business Administration, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced today.
Administrator Guzman made the loans available in response to a letter from Mississippi Gov. Tate
Reeves received on July 5, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA. Businesses and residents in the
declared area can now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. The declaration covers Wayne
County and the adjacent counties of Clarke, Greene, Jasper, Jones and Perry in Mississippi; and
Choctaw and Washington in Alabama.
“The SBA is strongly committed to providing the people of Mississippi with the most effective and
customer-focused response possible to assist businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters with
federal disaster loans,” said Guzman. “Getting businesses and communities up and running after a
disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”
To assist businesses and residents affected by the disaster, the SBA will open a Disaster Loan Outreach
Center (DLOC) in Waynesboro at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 9 in Wayne County:
Customer Service Representatives will be available at the DLOC to answer questions about the disaster
loan program and help individuals complete their applications. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,
the SBA has established protocols to help protect the health and safety of the public. All visitors to the
DLOC are encouraged to wear a face mask.
Wayne County
City 2 Voting Precinct
406 Mississippi Drive
Waynesboro, MS 39367
Opening: Saturday, July 9, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Closed Sundays
Closes Permanently: Thursday, July 21 at 4 p.m.
“Businesses and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace
disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business
assets,” said SBA’s Mississippi District Director Janita Stewart.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and
most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help
meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is
available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
“Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real
estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or
destroyed personal property,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in
Atlanta.
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 safe room
or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants
from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
Interest rates are as low as 2.94 percent for businesses, 1.875 percent for nonprofit organizations, and
1.438 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
DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s and should apply under SBA declaration # 17503.
Disaster loan information and application forms can also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer
Service Center at 800-659-2955 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial
7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services) or sending an email to
DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded from sba.gov/disaster.
Completed applications should be 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 Sept. 6, 2022. The deadline
to return economic injury applications is April 6, 2023.
Additional Information: MS_17503_Fact Sheet
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. 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, 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 www.sba.gov.