SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Businesses and Residents in Cobb County Affected by Severe Flooding

Georgia businesses and residents affected by severe flooding on Sept. 7-8, 2021, may apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced today.
Administrator Guzman made the loans available in response to a letter from Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp on Nov. 3, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA. Businesses and residents in the declared area can now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA. The declaration covers Cobb County and the adjacent counties of Bartow, Cherokee, Douglas, Fulton and Paulding in Georgia.
“SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help Cobb County small businesses and residents impacted by the Sept. 7-8 severe flooding,” said Administrator Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild.”
To assist businesses and residents affected by the disaster, the SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) will remain as indicated below:

SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)
Cobb County
Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center
2051 Lower Roswell Road
Marietta, GA 30068

Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed: Sunday

Thursday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day

Permanently closes on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 5 p.m.
Customer Service Representatives will be available at the DLOC to answer questions about the disaster loan program and help individuals complete their applications. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA has established protocols to help protect the health and safety of the public. All visitors to the DLOC are encouraged to wear a face mask.

“Businesses and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace
disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business
assets,” said SBA’s Georgia District Director Terri L. Denison.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and
most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to help meet
working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL Loan assistance is available regardless of whether
the business suffered any physical property damage.
“Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real
estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or
destroyed personal property,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in
Atlanta.
Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as
verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room
or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain, or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants
from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
Interest rates are as low as 2.855 percent for businesses, 2 percent for nonprofit organizations, and
1.563 percent for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set
by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at
DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s and should apply under SBA declaration #17262, not for the
COVID-19 incident.
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 emailing
DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications may be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster
Completed applications should be returned to the center or 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 Jan. 4, 2022. The deadline to
return economic injury applications is Aug. 5, 2022.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only
go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA
empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow
or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive
network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit
sba.gov.