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SBA has approved $25M in Kilauea disaster-related loans

COURTESY USGS

In this Aug. 5 aerial photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, lava from the last active eruption site on Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is shown near Pahoa, Hawaii.

The U.S. Small Business Administration said today it has approved more than $25 million in federal disaster loans for Hawaii businesses and residents affected by the Kilauea eruption.

Tanya N. Garfield, director of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West said the SBA has approved about $6.5 million for businesses and about $18.5 million for residents to help rebuild and recover from this disaster.

Businesses and residents who sustained damages are encouraged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency at disasterassistance.gov prior to the Aug. 13. deadline.

“SBA’s disaster assistance employees are committed to helping businesses and residents rebuild as quickly as possible,” said Garfield in a news release. “Don’t miss out on any assistance you may be entitled to by not registering for help. You don’t need to wait for your insurance to settle or obtain a contractor’s estimate.”

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

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace their damaged or destroyed primary residence. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

The deadline to apply for property damage is Aug. 13. The deadline to apply for economic injury is March 14, 2019.

SBA continues to provide one-on-one assistance to business owners and individuals at the Disaster Recovery Center in Pahoa at 15-3022 Kauhale St. The center is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Applicants can also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

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