From Buffalo County Emergency Management and US Small Business Administration:

Disaster Assistance Available for Small Businesses

Small, non-farm businesses in the following counties are now eligible to apply for low interest disaster loans from the US Small Business Administration (SBA).

"These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by adverse weather conditions that occurred in the following primary Nebraska counties," announced Alfred E. Judd, Director of SBA's Disaster Field Operations Center - West.

--------------------------------------------------
LOAN AND DISASTER INFORMATION

Excessive rain, hail, high winds, and flooding
EIDL: 11972
Primary County: Buffalo County
Neighboring Counties: Adams, Custer, Dawson, Hall, Howard, Kearney, Phelps, and Sherman
Incident Date: 06/06/09 and continuing
Deadline: 08/09/10

Severe hail storm
EIDL: 11973
Primary County: Platte County
Neighboring Counties: Boone, Butler, Colfax, Madison, Merrick, Nance, Polk, and Stanton
Incident Date: 08/09/09
Deadline: 08/09/10

Drought
EIDL: 11974
Primary Counties: Franklin and Webster
Neighboring Counties: Adams, Clay, Harlan, Kearney, Nuckolls, and Phelps in Nebraska - Jewell, Phillips, and Smith in Kansas
Incident Date: 01/01/09 and continuing
Deadline: 08/09/10

---------------------------------------------------

"SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster," Judd said.

Small, non-farm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

"Eligibility for these working capital loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only, and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 4%, a maximum term of 30 years, and are restricted to small businesses without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship," Judd added.

By law, SBA makes EIDLs available when the US Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster. Secretary Tom Vilsack declared this disaster at the request of Governor Dave Heineman.

Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are not eligible for SBA disaster assistance. Agricultural enterprises should contact the Farm Service Agency (FSA) about the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance made available by the Secretary's declaration. However, in drought disasters nurseries are eligible for SBA disaster assistance.

Information and application forms are available from SBA's Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, e-mailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA's web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Hearing impaired individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.