(Atlanta, GA) – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has extended the deadline for survivors of Hurricane Helene to apply for low-interest physical disaster loans. Businesses and residents affected by the storm, which occurred between September 25 and October 7, now have until January 7, 2025, to submit their applications.
In addition to the extended deadline, SBA has opened a Portable Loan Outreach Center (PLOC) at the Greenwood County Chamber of Commerce (1110 Phoenix St, Greenwood, SC 29646). The center, open through November 22, offers disaster survivors the opportunity to meet with specialists, receive assistance with loan applications, and access recovery resources.
The disaster declaration now includes Abbeville, Aiken, Beaufort, Greenville, and other South Carolina counties, along with the Catawba Indian Nation. Businesses and nonprofit organizations in these areas are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs). Additional counties in South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina are eligible for EIDLs only.
SBA’s Portable Loan Outreach Centers serve as vital hubs for businesses to meet face-to-face with customer service representatives to ask questions, submit documents, and track the status of their applications. The Greenwood County PLOC will be open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., closing permanently on November 22.
Key Deadlines:
- Physical property damage loan applications: January 7, 2025
- Economic injury loan applications: June 30, 2025
For more information, applicants can call (800) 659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit the SBA disaster assistance page at sba.gov/disaster.
