SBA offers aid for nor'easter losses

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - The Small Business Administration is offering low-interest loans to small businesses and nonprofits in Hampton Roads to help them recover from losses caused by a November nor'easter.

The SBA says small businesses and nonprofits have until Aug. 25 to apply for up to $2 million in loans.

The money can be used to pay debt that could have been paid if the storm damage hadn't occurred, such as payroll and accounts payable.

Loans are available for businesses and nonprofits in Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Poquoson, Portsmouth, James City County, York County and Currituck County, N.C.

To obtain a loan application, interested business owners and organizations should contact the SBA's Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for people with speech or hearing disabilities) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT, or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov .

Business disaster loan applications can also be downloaded from www.sba.gov . Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Victims may visit the SBA's secure website at to apply for disaster loans.

The deadline for economic injury applications is August 25, 2010.