N.J. disaster loans available for ’09 storm

Small businesses in 18 New Jersey counties have until May 25 to apply to the U.S. Small Business Administration for economic injury disaster loans as a result of storms that began April 15, 2009.

Both farm-related and non-farm-related losses could qualify for the loans, although the SBA said. However, those qualifying would have to be businesses such as machine shops that depended on the farm, and not the agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers themselves, an SBA spokesman said.

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with a 4 percent interest rate and terms up to 30 years, the SBA said.

The affected counties are Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren.

For more information, contact the SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or download the application at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.    - Roslyn Rudolph