Gov. Perry Announces SBA Assistance for North Texas Counties Affected by Severe Weather

Gov. Rick Perry announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has granted his request to provide federal disaster assistance to Dallas, Kaufman and Tarrant counties, which were devastated by multiple tornadoes earlier this month. This decision automatically makes the neighboring Texas counties of Collin, Denton, Ellis, Henderson, Hunt, Johnson, Parker, Rockwall, Van Zandt and Wise eligible for the same federal assistance.

"These storms dealt a significant blow to the North Texas area, and left many Texans in need of financial assistance to help rebuild their homes and businesses," Gov. Perry said. "I'm pleased the SBA has granted this request so families and businesses that lost so much in these storms can get back on their feet."

Homeowners, renters and businesses in all 13 counties are eligible to apply for low-interest SBA disaster loans. Homeowners can borrow up to $200,000 for residential damages, and renters and homeowners may borrow up to $40,000 for personal property losses. Businesses of any size and nonprofit organizations can borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace real estate assets, machinery and equipment, business inventory and other business assets damaged in the storm. The loans are offered at low interest rates for terms of up to 30 years.

Disaster Loan Outreach Centers opened today in Dallas, Kaufman and Tarrant counties, locations listed below. The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is June 18, 2012. The deadline to return economic injury applications is January 17, 2013.

Dallas County
Regions Bank Building
1425 North Dallas Avenue
Lancaster, TX 75134
Open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Kaufman County
Forney Police Department
110 Justice Center Drive
Forney, TX 75126
Open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tarrant County
Kennedale Chamber of Commerce
205 W. Kennedale Parkway (in Town Center)
Kennedale, TX 76060
Open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information, center locations or to request an application, please visit http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance or call (800) 659-2955. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339.