Small Business Assoc. to give federal assistance to WNY residents, businesses affected by Christmas blizzard

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Small Business Administration opened temporary disaster loan outreach centers in Cheektowaga and Buffalo on Friday at noon. Western New York businesses and residents who were affected by the Christmas blizzard can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA.

On Tuesday, Gov. Hochul announced that the SBA would offer federal assistance to those impacted by the December blizzard which dropped multiple feet of snow and brought hurricane-force winds to the Western New York region.

The following groups will be eligible for Small Business Administration disaster loans:

• Homeowners: up to $200,000 to repair their primary residence
• Homeowners & renters: up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property
• Business owners: up to $2,000,000 for the replacement of real property, inventories, machinery, equipment, and other physical losses
• Business and non-profits: Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2,000,000 to provide necessary working capital until normal operations resume after a disaster.

Those who are eligible for the loans can visit the following Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Erie County:

• Disaster Loan Outreach Center, Cheektowaga
  
  • Erie County Training & Operations Center
    3359 Broadway, Cheektowaga, N.Y., 14227
    Opens Friday, March 3 from 12 to 6 p.m.

Regular hours:

• Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Sunday
• Closes permanently Thursday, March 16 at 4 p.m.

• Disaster Loan Outreach Center, Buffalo
  
  • Delevan Grider Community Center
    877 E. Delevan Avenue Buffalo, N.Y., 14215
    Opens Friday, March 3 from 12 to 6 p.m.

Regular hours:

• Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Closed Sunday
• Closes permanently Thursday, March 16 at 4 p.m.

You can apply for a loan, and find more information about the application, here.

The deadline to return applications regarding physical property damage is April 28, 2023. The deadline to return applications regarding economic injury is Nov. 27, 2023.