From our news sources
Ocracoke residents may begin applying for U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) loans starting at 11 a.m. today (Oct. 18) and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Joint Recovery Center in the Variety Store Parking lot.
Starting next week, SBA application hours in the Joint Recovery Center (JRC) will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and closed on Sunday. It will remain open through Oct. 31 for residents to apply for low-interest SBA disaster loans.
Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday signed a state disaster declaration for counties that suffered damages from Hurricane Dorian: Carteret, Dare, Hyde and New Hanover and the contiguous counties of Beaufort, Brunswick, Craven, Currituck, Jones, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Tyrrell and Washington.
Read Cooper’s disaster declaration Here
This action follows the SBA granting Cooper’s request Oct. 16 for a disaster declaration for the Dorian-damaged counties, which followed FEMA’s Oct. 8 denial of North Carolina’s request for Individual Assistance.
“Today’s state disaster declaration will help North Carolinians recovering from Hurricane Dorian get vital assistance necessary to recover,” Cooper said on Thursday.
With the signing of the state disaster declaration, the governor authorizes individual assistance in the form of state-funded grants to be made available to affected individuals who do not meet the qualifications for an SBA loan or who have damages not covered by insurance.
All islanders seeking assistance must first fill out the SBA loan application, according to state officials. If the loan request is denied, then islanders have the opportunity to get state-funded grants.
Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website here. Click on Loan Information in the upper right hand corner of the page.
Rep. Greg Murphy (R-Pitt County) issued the following statement:
I am pleased the SBA granted North Carolina’s disaster request in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. As a result, individuals and small businesses will be eligible to apply for low-interest loans to rebuild from this natural disaster. I will continue to work with Governor Cooper, Senators Burr and Tillis and the rest of my colleagues in Congress until our communities in Eastern North Carolina have recovered.”
Personnel at the JRC urged all islanders to also stop in to fill out a damage assessment report which the Ocracoke Interfaith Relief & Recovery Team will use to get help to islanders. As of Thursday, 297 households had filled out the local assessment sheet.
As for the SBA loans, officials said the loans can be for anything: home, rental home, vehicle and even refinancing.
Islanders will need to bring along the following documents: Social Security card, proof of home ownership (deed, mortgage book, tax return, insurance declaration. If it’s a mobile home: title of ownership, proof of residency (utility bill), insurance certificates.
SBA loans can be sought for damaged vehicles and islanders will need driver’s license or state ID, Social Security card, registration and two estimates of damage.
Photos of the damage to the home or vehicle also will be helpful.
The following fact sheets about applying for an SBA loan are also available on the SBA website:
