Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved Texas' request for a disaster declaration in communities affected by the Eastland Complex Fire. The SBA granted access to its home disaster loans, business physical disaster loans and economic injury disaster loan (EIDL) program, which will provide low-interest loans to qualifying homeowners, renters and businesses in affected communities.
"Thank you to the U.S. Small Business Administration for providing this much-needed financial assistance to communities affected by the Eastland Complex Fire,” Abbott said in a press release from his office. “The State of Texas will continue to work alongside our federal partners to ensure Texans have access to the best resources and support they need as they rebuild and recover from this fire.”
The governor submitted the request April 25. Counties included in the declaration are Brown, Callahan, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Palo Pinto, Shackelford and Stephens.
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/; call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955; or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.
Starting at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, SBA representatives will open a disaster loan outreach center to address questions about the disaster loan program, explain the application process and help in completing applications.
The center will be at 1310 E. Main St. in Eastland, and will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.
People who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability can call 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
