The Los Angeles Post

Residents and Business Owners in LA County Affected by the Bobcat Wildfire Now Eligible for Disaster Assistance Loans

by ·

Disaster recovery loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are now available to Los Angeles County residents and businesses who suffered damage as a result of the Bobcat wildfire that began on September 6, 2020.

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. SBA low interest loans can also help businesses with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

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

If you need assistance with your application, visit the Los Angeles County Disaster Help Center at lacountyhelpcenter.org. Interested applicants who do not have access to the internet, have limited computer proficiency or speak languages other than English, may contact LA County’s Disaster Help Center at (833) 238-4450. Multilingual business counselors are standing by to assist business owners in completing applications Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

There are several ways to apply:

The SBA is also offering assistance through their Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center at [email protected] or by phone at (800) 659-2955.

Economic injury disaster loans help meet working capital needs such as purchasing inventory, supplies, and covering day-to-day expenses like rent and payroll. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business has suffered any property damage or not.

Interest rates can be as low as 3 percent for businesses, and 2.75 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 1.188 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.