Business owners grappling with the aftermath of the water main breaks in 11 Georgia counties have a new lifeline, thanks to the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) recent declaration. The SBA is offering low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to businesses impacted from May 31 to June 6. A Business Recovery Center (BRC) will also be established to guide applicants through the process, though details are yet to be announced.
Recognizing the economic strain the disaster has put on local businesses, the SBA has stepped in to provide much-needed financial assistance. According to a statement obtained by the DeKalb County website, the declaration covers Fulton County and adjacent counties including Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, and Gwinnett.
Business owners in these counties can submit their loan applications online by using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA’s secure website. For those in need of assistance or facing uncertainty about the process, the SBA disaster assistance customer service center can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1-800-659-2955 for further support.
The relief effort follows a formal request from Governor Brian Kemp's authorized representative Valarie Grooms, who serves as Deputy Director of Recovery at the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS). With the doors to the application set to close on April 10, 2025, affected business owners are encouraged to apply well before the deadline approaches.
