November 7, 2012

RE:     I.          Disaster Assistance from the Small Business Administration
            II.        Christie Administration Conference Call on Small Business Assistance

Dear Mayor:

The following information may be useful to local businesses and residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

I.          Disaster Assistance from the Small Business Administration

Individuals who rent or own a home, a business, or own a small agricultural cooperative located in a declared disaster area, and are victims of a disaster, may be eligible for financial assistance from the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  The application filing deadlines are:

Physical Damage: December 31, 2012
Economic Injury: July 31, 2013

What Types of Disaster Loans are Available?

Home Disaster Loans – Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate or personal property owned by the victim. Renters are eligible for their personal property losses, including automobiles.

Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.

EIDL assistance is available only to entities and their owners who cannot provide for their own recovery from non-government sources, as determined by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

For more information, contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at http://www.sba.gov/content/2012-hurricane-and-tropical-storm-recovery-assistance-information.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela

II.        Christie Administration Conference Call on Small Business Assistance

Governor Chris Christie announced that small business owners have the opportunity tomorrow to join a conference call with senior officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the New Jersey Business Action Center to discuss the federal and state governments' efforts to help small businesses and homeowners recover from Hurricane Sandy.

Officials will provide updates and answer questions about assistance and support to states affected by the aftermath of the storm.

WHAT:        Small business owners conference call with government officials

WHEN:        Thursday, November 8 at 2 p.m.

DIAL IN:     1-888-621-9649, Event number: 411483

Very truly yours,

William G. Dressel, Jr.
Executive Director