LANSING – The U.S. Small Business Administration on Friday approved physical and economic disaster declarations for Arenac, Berrien, Ingham and Kalamazoo counties following severe flooding that hit the counties in February.
The SBA approved the request of Governor Rick Snyder for the declaration which allows businesses and residents in the counties to apply for financial aid from the U.S. Government.
While the declaration specifically covers the four counties, it also affects the surrounding counties of Allegan, Barry, Bay, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Gladwin, Iosco, Jackson, Livingston, Ogemaw, Shiawassee, St. Joseph and Van Buren. Mr. Snyder had declared a disaster for 17 counties on March 12 following extreme flooding, the worst in some areas in more than a generation that was caused by large scale snow melt and heavy rains from February 19 to February 21.
The declaration was issued after the SBA did an assessment of the area earlier in March, looking at areas with uninsured damages to houses and businesses that amounted to 40 percent or higher of the properties.
The declaration means residents, businesses as well as non-profit agencies can get low-interest loans from the SBA to make repairs or replace property and equipment.
The declaration and availability of the loans “will bring some relief to those working to recover and rebuild,” Snyder said in a statement.
This story was published by Gongwer News Service.
