The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will temporarily close its Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Chattooga County on Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.

It will resume normal operations at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17. The SBA established the Center to help anyone to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans for damages due to flooding on Sept. 3-4. The declaration covers Chattooga County and the adjacent counties of Floyd and Walker in Georgia, and Cherokee and DeKalb counties in Alabama. Affected businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters are eligible to apply.

By visiting the Disaster Loan Outreach Center, applicants can meet one-on-one with SBA Customer Service Representatives for answers to questions and help with submitting their loan applications.   The SBA’s Center is open as indicated below until Jan. 26, 2023:

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA has established protocols to help protect the health
and safety of the public.

• All visitors to the BRCs are encouraged to wear a face mask.
• Interest rates are as low as 3.04 percent for businesses, 1.875 percent for nonprofit organizations, and 2.188 percent for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
• Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s and should apply under SBA declaration # 17751.