Governor Hogan Requests Small Business Administration Disaster Declaration for Howard County

Governor Hogan Requests Small Business Administration Disaster Declaration for Howard County

Approved Declaration Would Make Low-interest Loans Available to Businesses and Residents

REISTERSTOWN, Md. (August 9, 2016) — Governor Larry Hogan has issued a letter to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) requesting a physical disaster declaration for Howard County following flash flooding that affected Ellicott City and surrounding areas on July 30. An approved declaration would allow affected businesses, homeowners, and renters to apply for low-interest loans to repair damages that occurred due to the devastating storm.

“Ellicott City’s residents and businesses need as much help as they can get – from private citizens and all levels of government – as they begin to recover from this disastrous flood,” said Governor Hogan. “If approved, this disaster declaration will go a long way in providing access to the loans our citizens need to repair damages and continue the rebuilding process.”

State officials from the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) joined Howard County officials and SBA staff last week to assess damages in order to apply for this program.

“MEMA is coordinating with our federal partners and Howard County to ensure that all applicable forms of federal assistance are made available to impacted residents,” said MEMA Executive Director Russ Strickland.

SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters. If approved for assistance, SBA disaster loans can be used to repair or replace the following items damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster: real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, and inventory and business assets. For more information, please visit www.sba.gov.