SBA approves low-interest loans for SWMO disaster areas

Responding to a request from Gov. Jay Nixon, the U.S. Small Business Administration is making low-interest disaster loans available for qualified homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofits in 14 southwest Missouri counties affected by severe storms Feb. 28-March 1.

The SBA today is opening Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Taney, Stone and Dallas counties to assist residents and businesses with loan applications. They are located at:

• Taney County - Branson City Hall, 110 Maddux St., Ste. 315;
• Stone County - Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce, 14226 State Highway 13 in Kimberling City; and
• Dallas County - Dallas County Health Department, 1011 W. Main St. in Buffalo.

Online applications also are accepted at DisasterLoan.SBA.gov. The Taney County and Stone County locations are open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday Through Friday, while the Dallas County location is open 8 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Nixon requested a disaster declaration from the SBA March 13 and announced assistance was approved yesterday for Barry, Camden, Christian, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Hickory, Laclede, Lawrence, Ozark, Polk, Stone, Taney and Webster counties.

“Missouri again dealt with deadly and destructive tornadoes and severe storms late last month, and residents and businesses are facing substantial costs for clean up, repair and rebuilding,” Nixon said in the release. “The SBA low-interest loans that will now be available in these 14 counties can assist eligible residents and businesses as they rebuild and recover.”

Interest rates on SBA disaster loans start at 4 percent and and may go as high as 8 percent.

The SBA assistance comes days after the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied Nixon's request for a federal major disaster declaration for 18 counties, which would have made FEMA aid available. Nixon signed an executive order Feb. 29 activating the State Emergency Management Plan, allowing state agencies to assist local jurisdictions with emergency response efforts.[[In-content Ad]]