HARRISBURG -- Governor Tom Wolf announced Monday that loans from the federal government will be available for victims of flash flooding last month.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved his request to declare Centre and Lycoming Counties a disaster area after severe flooding caused significant damage to homes and businesses on October 21.
Homeowners, renters, and businesses in Centre and Lycoming Counties, as well as neighboring counties Bradford, Clinton, Columbia, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Sullivan, Tioga, and Union may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans through the SBA Disaster Loan Programs.
Low-interest loans of up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate.
SBA regulations permit loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property.
Businesses and nonprofits can borrow up to $2 million to restore damaged or destroyed buildings, inventory, equipment, and assets.
Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial qualifications.
The SBA has established Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) in both Centre and Lycoming counties. The centers are located in the following communities and are open as indicated:
Centre County
Office of Emergency Services – Willowbank Office Building
420 Holmes Street
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Opens: Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 10 a.m.
Weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sunday, Dec. 4
Closing: Thursday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m.
Lycoming County
Department of Public Safety – Lysock Complex
542 County Farm Road
Montoursville, PA 17754
Opens: Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 10 a.m.
Weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sunday, Dec. 4
Closing: Thursday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m.
SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the disaster loan outreach center to issue loan applications, answer questions about the disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals to complete their applications.
Individuals and businesses unable to visit the center in person may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired), or by e-mailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Loan applications can also be downloaded at www.sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.