The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters in Georgia and Alabama affected by flooding on Sept. 3-4, 2022, to apply for physical damage disaster loans by the March 10 deadline.

“Waiting to file an SBA application could cause unnecessary delays in receiving disaster assistance, and survivors may miss the application deadline. Submitting the loan application is an essential part of the disaster recovery process,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA Field Operations Center East.

Anyone in the declared counties with physical property damage should apply for the low-interest disaster loan program. The declaration covers Chattooga County in Georgia; and the adjacent counties of Floyd and Walker in Georgia; and Cherokee and DeKalb in Alabama.

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.

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.

If you have questions, please call the FOCE Communications Department at (404) 331-0333.