Chamber President Laurie White recently spoke with Anita Steenson, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience about the low-interest disaster loans available to businesses and residents in Rhode Island following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration due to severe storms, flooding and tornadoes occurring on Sept. 10-13, 2023. 

The SBA has also announced an Administrative Declaration of an Economic Injury Disaster for the recent sudden closure of the Washington Bridge and the impact this has had on local small businesses. This declaration allows for small businesses to apply for long-term, sub-market rate, working capital loans, intended to assist businesses with cash flow and lost revenues due to the impact of the bridge closure.

Small businesses in Providence, Kent, and Bristol counties in Rhode Island, as well as the contiguous counties of Bristol, Norfolk, and Worcester in Massachusetts, and Windham County in Connecticut affected by this event may apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan.

Resources:
- https://lending.sba.gov/
- https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
- disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
- RhodeIsland_DO@sba.gov
- 1-800-659-2955