SBA Offers Rural Disaster Assistance to Kansas Businesses and Residents Affected by the Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes and Flooding

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to Kansas businesses and residents affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that occurred April 25 - 30, announced Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman of the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster in response to a request SBA received from Governor Laura Kelly on Sept. 10.

The SBA Rural disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available to both rural and non-rural areas in Allen, Bourbon and Linn counties in Kansas.

"SBA's mission-driven team stands ready to help Kansas' small businesses and residents impacted by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and 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."

On Friday, Sept. 13, SBA will establish a Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center to provide personalized assistance to business owners. Customer Service Representatives will be available to business owners and individuals to answer questions about SBA's disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each person complete their electronic loan application.

Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Mondays - Fridays
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
[email protected]
(916) 735-1160

Opens at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13

Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.

SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize disaster damage from occurring in the future.

Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant's financial condition.

SBA disaster loan borrowers have up to one year from the date of the note to begin making payments. In addition, interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the initial loan disbursement and accrues on the amount disbursed.

Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The deadline to apply for property damage is Nov. 12, 2024. The deadline to apply for economic injury is June 11, 2025.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. 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, 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 www.sba.gov.