U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Karen G Mills issued the following statement after the announcement of the Presidential disaster declaration for several counties in Vermont that were affected by the severe storms and flooding that occurred on May 26-27.”The US. Small Business Administration is strongly committed to providing the people of Vermont with the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist homeowners, renters, and businesses with federal disaster loans. Getting businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”The disaster declaration covers the Vermont counties of Caledonia and Washington, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private non-profit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Addison, Chittenden, Essex, Lamoille, Orange, and Orleans in Vermont; and Grafton County in New Hampshire.Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed personal property.Businesses and private non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. The SBA may increase a loan up to 20 percent of the total amount of disaster damage to real estate and/or leasehold improvements, as verified by SBA, to make improvements that lessen the risk of property damage by future disasters of the same kind.For small businesses, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.Interest rates are as low as 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters, 3 percent for non-profit organizations and 4 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.To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at 800-621-FEMA (3362), TTY 800-462-7585 for people with speech or hearing disabilities. Additional details on the locations of Disaster Recovery Centers and the loan application process can be obtained by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov(link sends e-mail).Those affected by this disaster may fill out a loan application online by visiting SBA’s website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/(link is external) .The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is September 06, 2011.The deadline to return economic injury applications is April 09, 2012.For more information about the SBA’s Disaster Loan Program, visit our website at www.sba.gov(link is external) .SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration WASHINGTON, Jul 11, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) —