With disaster assistance nixed, SBA assistance is available

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Though the region was turned down for disaster assistance after the March flooding, 13 Southern Illinois counties will receive Small Business Administration loan assistance.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office announced his Aug. 27 request for SBA assistance was granted.

The low-interest loans are available to homeowners, renter and businesses hit by flooding, according to a news release from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

The counties eligible for SBA aid include Saline, Gallatin, Alexander, Franklin, Hamilton, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Union, White and Williamson counties.

Homeowners in those counties can apply for low-interest loans up to $200,000 to repair or replace damaged real estate. Renters are eligible for up to $40,000. Businesses may borrow up to $2 million, according to the news release.

"We've worked very hard to find help for the people whose lives were shattered by the damaging flood waters this spring," Blagojevich said in the news release. "While we are disappointed that our request for a disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency was denied, the low-interest loans will go a long way toward helping these people put their lives back together.

The filing deadline for SBA loan applications for property damage is Nov. 3.

-- Anyone who wants to apply for a loan may contact the SBA customer service center at 1-800-659-2955.