ARTICLE
On May 1, 2020, President Trump granted a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of South Carolina triggering the release of federal funds to help people and communities recover from Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-line Winds that occurred April 12-13, 2020. As a result of the Declaration, businesses and residents in the declared area can now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The disaster declaration includes Oconee and Pickens counties which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the adjacent counties of Anderson and Greenville are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans. SBA has opened a Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center/Business Recovery Center to assist survivors with completing the online application. Contact the Disaster Assistance Center at 470-363-5611, 202-803-3307, 404-909-1549 and 470-363-5936 to schedule an appointment for immediate one-on-one assistance in completing the application. Requests for SBA disaster loan program information may be obtained by emailing [email protected]. The SBA will conduct extensive outreach to ensure that all impacted by the disaster are afforded the opportunity to seek assistance. These services are only available for the South Carolina disaster declaration as a result of the Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Straight-line Winds on April 12-13, 2020, and not for COVID-19 related assistance. The deadline to return applications for physical property damage is June 30, 2020. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 1, 2021. For full press release details, click here.