Jan. 07, 2005

Gov. Perry Announces SBA Assistance for Gonzales County

Bastrop, DeWitt, Fayette, Karnes and Lavaca Also Eligible for SBA Assistance

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry announced today that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has granted his request to declare Gonzales County a disaster area following severe storms and sustained flooding that occurred Nov. 15-Dec. 4.

The declaration means that homeowners, renters and businesses will be eligible to apply for low-interest SBA disaster loans in Gonzales County, the declared county, and the neighboring counties of Bastrop, DeWitt, Fayette, Karnes and Lavaca. The neighboring counties of Caldwell, Guadalupe and Wilson are already eligible because the SBA granted a similar request by Gov. Perry for Wharton and Guadalupe counties earlier this week.

The governor requested assistance from the SBA after damage assessments conducted by the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management showed that more than 25 homes and businesses in each declared county had suffered an uninsured or underinsured loss greater than 40 percent.

Perry noted that with the disaster declaration, homeowners can borrow up to $200,000; renters can borrow up to $40,000 for personal property losses; and businesses can borrow up to $1.5 million to repair or replace property damaged in the storms. The loans are offered at interest rates as low as 2.9 percent for terms up to 30 years.

To apply for loans, contact the SBA toll-free at (800) 366-6303 or TDD at (817) 267-4688 for the hearing impaired.

Perry has also requested recovery aid from the following state and federal agencies: Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Office of Rural Community Affairs and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service.