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WASHINGTON, DC --
Georgia residents and businesses affected by severe storms and flooding on August 7, can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills announced today.

Administrator Mills made the loans available in response to a letter from the governor’s authorized representative, Charley English, on August 10, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA.  The declaration covers Tift County and the adjacent counties of Berrien, Colquitt, Cook, Irwin, Turner and Worth in Georgia.

“The SBA is strongly committed to providing the people of Georgia with the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes with federal disaster loans,” said Administrator Mills.  “Getting businesses and communities up and running after a disaster is our highest priority at SBA.”

“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 Frank Skaggs, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.  SBA’s customer service representatives are on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center to answer questions about the disaster loan program, explain the process, issue and help individuals complete their applications.

The center is located in the following community and is open as indicated:

Tift County
Tift County Recreation Special Programs Building
202 Baldwin Drive
Tifton, GA  31794

Opens:    Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 8 a.m.
Hours:    8 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays
               9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, August 18 (closed Sunday)
Closes:    Thursday, August 23, 2012 close of business