Small Iowa businesses that were hurt by extremely dry weather across two-thirds of the state can now apply for low-interest federal disaster loans. Mark Randle, spokesman for the U.S. Small Business Administration, says loans are available to businesses in 64 Iowa counties.
Randle says the non-farm businesses are eligible to apply for the economic injury loans if the business depends on the agricultural industry and lost revenue due to the drought. He says the loans are being offered by the S-B-A to help struggling businesses regain ground that was lost due to the continued dry spell.
Randle says the maximum loan amount is one-point-five million dollars. Small, non-farm businesses can apply, places directly dependent on farmers like suppliers, ag equipment or services. Businesses It can also include “Main Street businesses” like restaurants, gas stations and retail stores in the ag-based economy. For more information, surf to “www.sba.gov” or call 800 659-2955.
The counties are: Adair, Adams, Appanoose, Audubon, Buena Vista, Butler, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Cerro Gordo, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, Crawford, Dallas, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Dickinson, Emmet, Floyd, Franklin, Fremont, Guthrie, Hancock, Harrison, Henry, Humboldt, Ida, Kossuth, Lee, Louisa, Lucas, Lyon, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Mills, Mitchell, Monona, Monroe, Montgomery, O’Brien, Osceola, Page, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Polk, Pottawattamie, Sac, Shelby, Sioux, Taylor, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, Wayne, Webster, Winnebago, Woodbury, Worth & Wright.