Three east GA counties eligible for hailstorm aid

Small businesses and non-profit organizations in Burke, Columbia and Richmond counties in east Georgia are eligible for Small Business Administration loans as a result of hailstorms May 11-20. Frank Skaggs, an SBA field operations director, said Friday that the three counties are eligible because they are adjacent to primary counties in South Carolina named in a disaster declaration. The agency's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations that suffered financial losses. Farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to the SBA. Loans of up to $2 million may be available at 4 percent interest with terms up to 30 years.
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On the Web: www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance

(Associated Press)