10/08/2019 U.S. Small Business Administration Offers Disaster Assistance to AK Small Businesses Economically Impacted by the Swan Lake Fire

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses economically impacted by the Swan Lake Fire that began June 5, 2019. The deadline to apply for economic injury is July 8, 2020.  Download the full announcement at https://tinyurl.com/SBA-AK16148.

The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Chugach REAA, Iditarod Area REAA, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Kodiak Island Borough, Lake and Peninsula Borough, Matanuska-Susitna Borough; and the Municipality of Anchorage.

Eligibility is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 4 percent for small businesses and 2.75 percent for private nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years and are restricted to small businesses without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.

The Kenai Peninsula Small Business Development Center located at 43335 Kalifornsky Beach Road, Suite 12, Soldotna, AK  99669 is offering free, personalized counseling to help affected businesses in their recovery. Businesses may contact Center Director Cliff Cochran by emailing cliff.cochran@aksbdc.org or calling (907) 260-5643 to schedule an appointment.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX  76155.

The deadline to apply for economic injury is July 8, 2020.