SBA extends blizzard repair loans to Ocean, six more counties

If your house took damage during the January blizzard, you might qualify for a low-interest Small Business Administration (SBA) loan for repairs.

Only hours after SBA placed Atlantic County in its disaster declaration, the Christie Administration sent word that the edict also includes Ocean, Burlington, Cape May, Camden, Gloucester and Cumberland Counties.

Governor Christie turned to SBA after losing his bid for a federal disaster declaration, which would have opened the door for grants instead of loans.

While not tied to the Superstorm loan program, the terms are essentially the same - up to $40,000 for home owners or renters to repair damage and replace items, up to $200,000 for home owners to restore primary houses to pre-blizzard conditions, and up to $2,000,000 for business operators, based on physical and financial conditions.

The deadline for submitting property damage applications is April 22. Economic injury applications will be accepted through November 22.

SBA has opened a field office in the Atlantic City Municipal Building, operating Mondays through Fridays, 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM.

Applications can also be submitted through SBA's Electronic Loan Application portal, or downloaded at its disaster loan portal and sent via overland mail to:

U.S. Small Business Administration

Processing and Disbursement Center

14925 Kingsport Road

Fort Worth, Texas 76155

Information and applications can be obtained by phone, 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for those with hearing impairments), or by email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.