Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 28, 2004

Schumer: Small Business Loans Coming To Upstate Counties Suffering From Hurricane Francis’ Storm Damage

After Hurricane Francis’ storms wreaked significant damage, FEMA approved Public Assistance for upstate counties and SBA followed suit this week by approving 14 Upstate counties for Disaster Loan Program; FEMA has to still approve Individual Assistance

Schumer: This is a good step, we will keep pushing to get Individual Assistance from FEMA Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Columbia, Del

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that 14 Upstate counties will qualify for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Disaster Loan Progam to help them recover from Hurricane Francis’ storms. Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Columbia, Delaware, Monroe, Niagara, Onondaga, Orange, Orleans, Steuben, Sullivan, Ulster, and Warren counties were approved to begin the SBA Disaster Loan Program process.

"I'm glad the feds finally see what we've been saying for several weeks -- the storm was a killer and New York’s small businesses deserve federal assistance,” said Schumer. “I'm happy to say that help is on the way and now we're going to keep pushing to get more assistance so that everyone who needs it gets it.”

Intense rainstorms ripped across the state in August and September. Considerable damage was wreaked on homes, businesses and infrastructure such as roads, bridges and other facilities. In the week immediately following the storms, Schumer urged the State of New York to make a request to the federal government for disaster assistance for property and infrastructure, because doing so is a prerequisite for obtaining federal funds. FEMA announced some assistance for Upstate New York after the State made their request, but it was not enough. Upstate counties had to re-assess their damage totals and appeal to FEMA. FEMA approved Public Assistance (PA) funding to 10 of those counties last week but has not made a decision regarding Individual Assistance (IA) for Upstate New York. Because of FEMA’s allocation, SBA today approved 14 Upstate counties for their Disaster Loan Program for private and non-profit organizations.

Small businesses in Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Columbia, Delaware, Monroe, Niagara, Onondaga, Orange, Orleans, Steuben, Sullivan, Ulster, and Warren counties were approved for this specific Disaster Loan Program which provides loans for private, non-profit organizations that provide essential services of a governmental nature. The businesses must now apply by submitting forms indicating their physical damage as a result of Hurricane Francis to the SBA’s Niagara Fall’s office. Forms are available at: http://www.sba.gov/disaster_recov/loaninfo/dloanassit.html and must be sent by November 30th, 2004. Every loan will be reviewed within a month but earlier submissions will receive quicker review.

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