Updated 2:40pm 2/7/2025
Disaster Loans from the SBA
Review the Fact Sheet. To apply or learn more, visit www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) encourages small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in West Virginia to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by Post-Tropical Storm Helene that occurred Sept. 25-28, 2024.
The declaration covers the counties of McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming in West Virginia, as well as Bland, Giles and Tazewell counties in Virginia.
Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs that suffered financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amount terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
SBA will partner with local stakeholders to conduct webinars and workshops targeted to small businesses and non-profit organizations in disaster-declared counties. Information on future events will be shared with the media.
For more information and to apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return economic injury applications is Sept. 9, 2025.
Citizen Recovery Program
- Financial and Household Needs Assistance – help with rent, utilities, basic household items (e.g. clothing, cleaning supplies), temporary housing/emergency shelter, employment assistance, legal aid, and transportation access.
- Food Assistance – access to meals (e.g., food pantries, meal delivery), and/or financial assistance to purchase food.
- Health Supports – assistance accessing mental and physical health services, prescriptions, medical supplies, and emergency room visits.
- Educational Supports – assistance related to setting up temporary school sites, student transportation, school supplies, setting up community-based learning sites, school clean-up; and relocation of teachers, students, and administrators.
- Other services and supports – as determined and identified by impacted populations, community-based organizations, and specific communities, to meet the evolving needs of the communities impacted by the Disaster.
Debris Removal:
VDEM will begin their debris removal mission in Giles County on November 25th. The general objective of this mission will be, if private citizens still have debris related to Hurricane Helene that they have not cleaned up yet, VDEM will send contractors to pick up the debris provided that the citizens can get the debris to within 10 feet of the public roadway. The contractors VDEM utilizes will take debris they pick up direct to the landfill.
Do you have debris from Hurricane Helene? Beginning 11-25-24, debris removal crews will be picking up the following Hurricane Helene related debris throughout Giles. Questions can be directed to 540-921-2525 during business hours. Use this form to request debris removal: www.tinyurl.com/GilesDebris
✅ Vegetative debris like branches, limbs, logs, trees and bushes
✅ Damage/demolition materials like drywall, wood, insulation, siding, furnishings and roofing materials.
✅ Tires
Place your Hurricane Helene related debris at the edge of your property, by the nearest public roadway. Debris removal crews cannot go on private property.
❌ Do not put your debris in the roadway.
❌ Do not put your debris in drainage ditches.
❌ Do not bag your debris.
Small Business Support:
- SBA Business Physical Disaster Loans: Loans for businesses or non-profit organizations to repair or replace disaster damaged property. The deadline to apply is December 2, 2024.
- SBA Home and Personal Property Loans: Loans available to homeowners and renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate.
- SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Working loans to help small businesses and most non-profit organizations meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. The deadline to apply is July 1, 2025. Additional adjacent counties are also eligible to apply for EIDLs.
Do you want to help?
Where to donate money:
Giles County has established a disaster relief fund for monetary donations. These funds will be used for residential and housing support. Please call or visit any branch of National Bank of Blacksburg to contribute.
