Small business disaster assistance available for Iowa counties

Rep. Dave Loebsack announced that small businesses in 26 Iowa counties are now eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the Small Business Administration.  These loans are made available to help offset economic losses due to the high winds, excessive rain and subsequent flooding that occurred in April.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and we must ensure that they are able to fully recover after a disaster strikes,” said Loebsack.

“In an already fragile economy, this announcement is another step towards helping small businesses get the assistance they need to contribute to our economic recovery.”

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans are approved for small, nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size affected by the combined effects of severe storms, excessive rain, flooding, hail, high winds, tornadoes, and drought that occurred beginning in April of 2011.  This announcement comes on the heels of the agriculture disaster declaration that was made last week.

Specifically, small businesses in the counties of Clarke, Davis, Decatur, Fremont, Henry, Jefferson, Jones, Keokuk, Lee, Linn, Louisa, Lucas, Mahaska, Mills, Monona, Monroe, Montgomery, Page, Polk, Tama, Taylor, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington, Wayne and Woodbury are available to apply for loans.

Benefits are also available for small businesses in the contiguous counties of Adams, Appanoose, Benton, Black Hawk, Boone, Buchanan, Cass, Cedar, Cherokee, Clinton, Crawford, Dallas, Delaware, Des Moines, Dubuque, Grundy, Hardin, Harrison, Ida, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Muscatine, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Story, Union and Warren.