Representatives from government agencies and non-profits will be part of a Dec. 12 resource fair to assist people affected by Hurricane Helene.
FEMA, Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Recovery, SBA Georgia District Office, SDA Rural Development, USDA Farm Service Agency, Salvation Army, Red Cross, University of Georgia Small Business Development Center, Georgia Legal Services, Goodwill, Augusta Building and Planning Department, Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce, Work Source Georgia and the Georgia Department of Labor will be at Paine College’s Candler Library from 1 to 4 p.m.
Organizations will make presentations from 1 to 2:15 p.m. and people can visit with representatives from 2:30 to 4 p.m. ‘
As area residents recover from Hurricane Helene, there’s one agency they might not necessarily think of that can be a source of help – the Small Business Administration and its office of Disaster Recovery & Resiliency, which offers low-interest, long-term loans to fill in gaps.
“Despite the agency name, 80% of loans funded are to homeowners and renters after a disaster is declared,” said Elijah Neahous, an SBA customer service representative, in a Nov. 1 Augusta Good News article.
For those impacted by Hurricane Helene, these loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and non-profit organizations that had storm or flood damage from Hurricane Helene, from Sept. 24 to Oct. 30, 2024, in any of the 63 Georgia counties included in the Hurricane Helene Presidential Disaster Declaration, according to a news release from the SBA.
These disaster loans are low interest, long-term and can be used to cover damages not covered by insurance or FEMA. Applicants have two months to decide after receiving the loan offer. The application deadline is Jan. 7, 2025.
For those who are unable to attend Thursday’s resource fair, there are disaster recovery centers to get additional information. In Richmond County, the office is located at the HUB for Community Innovation, 631 Chafee Avenue, Augusta; in Columbia County, at Columbia County Emergency, 650 Ronald Reagan Dr., Evans; in Lincoln County at the Lincoln County Recreation Department Gymnasium, 1962-Rowland-York Drive; and in McDuffie County at the Thomson Depot, 111 Railroad St.
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