ATLANTA, Sept. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that certain Private Non-Profit Organizations (PNP) in North Carolina that do not provide critical services of a governmental nature may be eligible to apply for low interest rate disaster loans. These loans are available as a result of a Presidential disaster for severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides from July 3-13, 2013.

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PNPs located in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Watauga, Yancey counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina that provide non-critical services are eligible to apply. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges.

"PNP organizations are urged to contact the North Carolina Emergency Management to obtain information about local briefings. At the meeting, PNP representatives will need to provide information about their organization," said Frank Skaggs, director of SBA Field Operations Center East in Atlanta. The information will be used to submit a Request for Public Assistance which FEMA uses to determine if the PNP provides an essential governmental service and meets the definition of a "critical facility." Based upon that conclusion, FEMA may provide the PNP with a Public Assistance reimbursement grant for their eligible costs or refer the PNP to SBA for disaster loan assistance.

PNP organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. The interest rate is 2.875 percent with terms up to 30 years. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, to make improvements that help prevent the risk of future property damage caused by a similar disaster.

The SBA also offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs, such as ongoing operating expenses to PNP organizations of all sizes. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the organization suffered any physical property damage.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA's secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. 

Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an e-mail to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from the SBA's website at www.sba.gov/disaster.  Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is November 25, 2013.  The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 25, 2014.

For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Program, visit our website at www.sba.gov/disaster.

Release Number: 13-769, NC 13783/13784

Contact: Michael Lampton Email: Michael.Lampton@sba.gov Phone: (404) 331-0333

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

RELATED LINKShttp://www.sba.gov