SBA Disaster Assistance Available to Iowa Private, Nonprofit Organizations

 

May 8, 2013 – Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to certain private, nonprofit organizations (PNPs) in Iowa following President Obama’s federal disaster declaration for Public Assistance (PA) as a result of the severe winter storm that occurred April 9-11, 2013, announced Karen G. Mills, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. PNPs that provide essential services of a governmental nature are eligible for assistance.

 

SBA disaster assistance is now available in the Iowa counties of Dickinson, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola and Sioux. All interested PNPs should begin the process by registering with FEMA. At the time of registration, FEMA will determine if the PNP qualifies to immediately apply for a grant from FEMA’s PA program or will be referred to SBA to apply for a low-interest federal disaster loan.

 

SBA may lend PNPs up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

 

For certain private, nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDLs may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the nonprofit suffered any property damage.

 

The interest rate is 2.875 percent with terms up to 30 years. The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is July 5, 2013. The deadline to return economic injury applications is February 6, 2014.

 

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website.

 

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling SBA toll-free at (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877 8339.

 

 

Branstad issues disaster proclamation for 15 counties

 

May 7, 2013 – Governor Terry E. Branstad issued a third proclamation of disaster emergency today in response to recent storms and flooding in south and southeast Iowa.

Click here to view/download a PDF copy of this map.

 

Fifteen counties are included in this proclamation:  Appanoose, Clinton, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Marion, Monroe, Ringgold, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren and Wayne.

Governor Branstad had issued two proclamations in April covering eight other counties as a result of a storm system that came through the state on April 17: Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Lee, Mahaska, Muscatine, Scott and Washington. Those proclamations activated the Iowa Individual Assistance Program for those counties, which provides grants for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

 

This latest proclamation of disaster emergency also activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Program, and in addition authorizes the use and deployment of state resources to those 15 counties. This proclamation contains provisions to assist the Iowa Department of Transportation in requesting federal emergency relief funding for the repair or reconstruction of federal highways and bridges throughout the impacted counties.

 

In addition, FEMA will begin conducting damage assessments jointly with the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division and local officials in 19 counties impacted by April 17 storms and flooding. Results of these damage assessments could be used to determine if a request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration is warranted. Damage assessments will be conducted in the following counties: Appanoose, Cedar, Clinton, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Iowa, Johnson, Keokuk, Lee, Lucas, Marion, Monroe, Muscatine, Ringgold, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren and Wayne.

 

The Iowa Individual Assistance Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food, and for the expense of temporary housing. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available at the “Disaster Assistance” link on the Iowa Department of Human Services website: www.dhs.iowa.gov.

 

View the language in the proclamation of disaster emergency here.

 

 

Iowa receives Presidential Disaster Declaration

 

May 6, 2013 - Today, Gov. Terry E. Branstad received word that a Presidential Disaster Declaration has been issued for five Iowa counties. The five counties included in the declaration are Dickinson, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola and Sioux.

The Governor sent the request for the declaration on Friday, April 26, in response to severe weather which occurred April 9-11, 2013. The severe weather produced damaging winds, heavy rains, thunderstorms, freezing rain, ice and snow that caused damage to utility lines, poles, trees and vegetation.

Click here to view/download a PDF copy of this map.

 

The declaration by the President will provide federal funding to the declared counties under the Public Assistance Program. A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance puts into motion long-term federal recovery programs, some of which are matched by state programs, and designed to help public entities and select non-profits. Public Assistance funds may be used for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities and may include debris removal, emergency protective measures, repair of damaged public property, loans needed by communities for essential government functions and grants for public schools.

The Governor also received notification that the Presidential Disaster Declaration includes funding to conduct hazard mitigation activities for the entire state. With this funding, Iowa will be able to minimize the impact of future natural disasters by taking steps now to strengthen existing infrastructure.

This Presidential Disaster Declaration is the 15th Major Presidential Disaster Declaration Iowa has received since March 2007.