ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The U.S. Small Business Administration announces today that FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Silver Lake will transition into SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center on Monday October 26, 2009. The establishment of the Center demonstrates SBA's commitment to ensure that every qualified individual and business receives the help they need to recover from this disaster.

"Assisting individuals and business owners to recover from a disaster is our primary mission," said Frank Skaggs, Director of SBA Field Operations Center East. "We are encouraging anyone affected by this disaster to visit a Center while we still have staff here and obtain individual assistance with completing their loan applications from our representatives."

Many residents and businesses that registered with FEMA for assistance have received SBA disaster loan applications. Completing the loan application and returning it is a crucial step toward disaster recovery. Homeowners and renters unable to obtain a disaster loan from the SBA may be referred to FEMA for grant consideration. To be eligible for these grants, applicants must submit their SBA loan application even if they do not want a loan. No one is required to accept a loan.

The location of the Center is:

SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOC)

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School165 Central AvenueSilver Creek, NY14136

Hours: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm Monday - Friday (until further notice)

"Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property," Frank Skaggs added.

For small businesses and private non-profit organizations of all sizes, the 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.

Interest rates are as low as 2.750 percent for homeowners and renters, and 4.000 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition.

Anyone unable to visit one of the Centers may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (or 1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT, or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications may be downloaded from www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Applications may be returned to one of the Centers or mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, Texas, 76155.

Those affected by the disaster may apply for disaster loans from SBA's secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is November 3, 2009. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 4, 2010.

For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Programs, visit our Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

Release Number: 10-047, NY 11872/ 11873