SBA Center to Close Sept. 15

Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
703-324-3187, TTY 711, FAX 703-324-2010

Sept. 14, 2006

SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center to Close Sept. 15

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the closing of its Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Fairfax County tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 15, after its business hours of 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The center, located in the South County Center, 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, opened Aug. 21, to assist residents affected by severe storms and flooding in late June.

Even though the Disaster Loan Outreach Center is closing, the SBA is still available by phone to assist residents in completing their application. Homeowners, renters, nonprofit organizations and businesses have until Oct. 16 to submit disaster loan applications for damage caused by the severe storms and flooding that occurred June 25 through June 30. The SBA also advises residents that they do not have to wait until insurance claims are settled to apply.

To date, the SBA has approved more than $725,000 in loans. Most of the loans are unsecured, simple interest loans for less than $10,000, with rates of 2.937 percent for renters and homeowners; 4 percent for businesses. However, the SBA reports that of the 126 requested applications, only 65 have been completed. Victims of the June flooding only have about four weeks left until Oct. 16 to complete their applications for physical damage.

Residents needing assistance should call the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955, TTY 1-800-877-8339, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Business loan applications also can be downloaded from the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster . Completed applications should be mailed to the U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Ft. Worth, TX 76155.

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For more news and information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news.