ATLANTA– The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today it is opening a Portable Loan
Outreach Center (PLOC) in Sharkey County, Miss., on Wednesday, March 29. SBA is establishing the
center to help anyone in the declared counties apply for low-interest disaster loans for damages caused
by the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes that occurred March 24-25.
The disaster declaration covers Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe and Sharkey counties 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 (EIDLs): Attala, Chickasaw, Clay, Grenada, Holmes, Issaquena,
Itawamba, Lee, Leflore, Lowndes, Montgomery, Sunflower, Washington and Yazoo in Mississippi; and
Lamar and Marion in Alabama.
Disaster survivors with insurance should not wait for their settlement before applying to the SBA. The
SBA can make a loan for the total loss and use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.
SBA’s friendly Customer Service Representatives can answer questions about the Disaster Loan
Program, assist survivors with inputting their application, and upload documents.
The PLOC will be
open as indicated below:
SBA Portable Loan Outreach Center (PLOC)
Sharkey County
South Delta High School (parking lot)
303 Parkway St.
Rolling Fork, MS 39159
Opening: Wednesday, March 29, noon to 6 p.m.
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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.
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.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and
most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) 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.
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 4 percent for businesses, 2.375 percent for nonprofit organizations, and
2.375 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 # 17836.
To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at
DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA mobile app. If online or mobile access is unavailable,
applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video
Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.
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 May 25, 2023. The deadline
to return economic injury applications is Dec. 26, 2023.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
Recently, U.S. SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced a policy change granting 12 months
of no payments and 0 percent interest. This policy change will benefit disaster survivors and help them to
decrease the overall cost of recovery by reducing the amount of accrued interest they must repay. Details
are available through the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. Individuals
with verbal or hearing impairments may dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services from 8
a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday, or email: DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only goto 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 www.sba.gov.