Help Wanted
Sam's Pizza, a family-owned fixture in Upshur County since 1991, is adding delivery drivers to its team of more than two dozen at its Buckhannon location. Applicants are asked to apply in person at 9 Southfork Plaza Drive. Read more →
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Homeowners and renters — not just business owners — can borrow from the U.S. Small Business Administration at low interest rates to recover from the July 21 flood. The deadline to apply for physical damage loans is October 3.
Elise Hillman, a public affairs specialist with the SBA, brought that message to August’s Buckhannon City Council meeting. The agency announced the loans earlier this month after the presidential disaster declaration, and many eligible West Virginians still do not realize they qualify, according to the SBA.
“We just ask that if you were impacted in any type of way, please come down to our recovery centers, please speak with someone in person,” Hillman said.
The SBA’s help comes as loans, aimed in part at people whose losses were not covered by insurance, Hillman said. Starting the process costs nothing.
“There’s no cost to submit the application, and then there’s also no obligation for those individuals to accept the loan,” she said.
SBA representatives work alongside FEMA at the disaster recovery center at the Upshur County Development Authority office, 21 E. Main St., open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Walk-ins are welcome, and appointments can be scheduled in advance.
Businesses can receive loans of up to $2 million to repair physical damage or recover from economic losses. Homeowners may qualify for up to $500,000 to repair or rebuild their primary residence, while renters and homeowners may receive assistance for personal property losses.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.625% for private nonprofits and 2.875% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement.
Businesses that escaped physical damage but lost revenue because customers could not patronize them may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans — working capital to cover fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could not be paid because of the disaster. Hillman said those cases take more time to assess, which is why the economic injury deadline runs until May 3, 2027.
Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their verified physical damage for mitigation projects, such as strengthening structures against high wind or installing a storm shelter.
“One distinct advantage of SBA’s disaster loan program is the opportunity to fund upgrades reducing the risk of future storm damage,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at SBA. “I encourage businesses and homeowners to work with contractors and mitigation professionals to improve their storm readiness while taking advantage of SBA’s mitigation loans.”
To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability can dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
“I truly love what I do, even though we go into disaster areas,” Hillman told council. “I love what I do because we help people.”
