Relief available for earthquake damage

Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to certain private nonprofit organizations in Utah following Pres. Trump’s federal disaster declaration for public assistance as a result of the earthquake and aftershocks that occurred March 18 through April 17 of last year. The announcement was made by Administrator Jovita Carranza of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Private nonprofits that provide essential services of a governmental nature are eligible for assistance.

These low-interest federal disaster loans are available in Salt Lake County.

“Private nonprofit organizations should contact Janna Wilkinson, state Mitigation and Recovery Section manager of the Utah Division of Emergency Management by calling (385) 214-5857 or by emailing jannawilkinson@utah.gov to obtain information about applicant briefings,” said Director Tanya N. Garfield of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West. “At the briefings, private nonprofit representatives will need to provide information about their organization.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will use the information provided to determine if the private nonprofit provides an “essential governmental service” and is a “critical facility” as defined by law. If so, FEMA may provide the private nonprofit with a public assistance grant for their eligible costs. If not, FEMA may refer the private nonprofit to SBA for disaster loan assistance.

The SBA may lend private nonprofits up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For certain private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help with meeting working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the nonprofit suffered any property damage.

The interest rate is 2.75 percent with terms up to 30 years. The deadline to apply for property damage is March 1. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Oct. 1. Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/.