Contact: Donna Bigler, 240-777-6530
For Immediate Release: September 27, 2001

Low Interest Loans Available Through
Small Business Administration

Small businesses, non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters in Montgomery County may be eligible for low interest disaster loss recovery loans under the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance program. These loans are being made available as a result of a federal declaration for Virginia, D.C. and Montgomery County, Md., following the recent disaster at the Pentagon and the subsequent closure of Reagan National Airport.

The SBA will be holding workshops at Reagan National Airport to provide information to those who have been affected by these incidents. The SBA staff will be available in Terminal A on Monday, October 1 through Saturday, October 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily to provide information and help with application forms. Loan officers will be available to issue disaster loan applications and answer questions.

SBA disaster loans cover uninsured and underinsured losses, repair to damaged real estate, machinery and inventory. Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to small businesses unable to pay bills or meet operating expenses.

For more information, applicants can contact Colleen Hiam or Frank Adinolfe at the Small Business Administration at 716-282-4612. Interested persons can also contact Montgomery County's Office of Emergency Management at 240-777-2300 or visit the web site at www.co.mo.md.us/dfrs/emg.