York Town News
State, SBA, FEMA continue efforts to support local businesses, residents
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - More than a month has passed since torrential rains and rising floodwaters ravaged local roads, businesses and homes, but state and federal government agencies remain on call to help those still struggling to rebuild after the Mother's Day storm.Officials from the Small Business Administration and Federal Emergency Management Agency have multiple ways they can help residents and businesses alike with the ongoing recovery effort.
FEMA officials announced Friday that in the first three weeks following the storm, more than $1 million - $1,081,413, to be exact - in state and federal disaster aid has been approved to help area residents who sustained flood-related losses. And registrations are still being accepted.
On Monday, June 19, Gov. John E. Baldacci announced a new state effort to help in the form of a six-week tax payment reprieve for those struggling to rebuild after the storm.
"Families and businesses in York County have made great strides in rebounding from last month's flooding, and this relief will provide further time for recovery," Baldacci said in his announcement of the plan. "I continue to be impressed with the way residents and local, regional, state and federal partners have worked together to ensure that those impacted recover quickly."
Businesses, individuals and those whose tax records are located in York County will have until July 25 to file Maine tax returns and other tax-related information that was required between May 13 and July 25. The relief plan applies to all taxes administered by Maine Revenue Services, including sales and use taxes, individual and corporate income taxes, and the financial institution franchise tax.
Maine Revenue Services will abate interest and any late filing or payment penalties for qualifying residents who write "York County Flood" across the top of their return. Taxpayers covered by this relief who receive penalties and interest for filing returns or paying taxes late during the relief period should contact Maine Revenue Services at 626-8475 or 626-9693 for a waiver. For more about the state plan, visit www.maine.gov/revenue.
Taxpayers with questions about federal tax relief associated with York County flooding should contact the IRS at (800) 829-1040.
Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, praised the SBA this week for its efforts to assist local residents. The Disaster Loan Assistance Center at York County Community College in Wells also remains open
On Wednesday, June 14, the SBA Loan Assistance Center to serve area residents and businesses opened at the Grant House on Route 1 in York. The center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice.
"I would like to thank and commend the SBA's Office of Disaster Assistance for setting up this important Loan Assistance Center," Snowe said. "The LAC will provide assistance to York County residents as they file for low-interest disaster loans, and undoubtedly expedite the application process with the SBA's Office of Disaster Assistance."
The SBA offers loans up to $40,000 for renters and homeowners for personal property. Homeowners are eligible for loans of up to $200,000 to repair primary residences. Loans to businesses of all sizes and non-profit organizations are available up to $1.5 million to repair damage to real estate, machinery, equipment and inventory and Economic Injury Disaster Loans are also available to small businesses unable to pay bills or meet operating expenses.
Interest rates are as low as 2.937 percent for renters and homeowners and 4 percent for businesses. Repayment schedules can last up to 30 years, explained Tom Nocera, public information officer with the Small Business Administration, who pointed out that applicants should register first with FEMA by calling (800) 621-FEMA before visiting the center.
The application deadline for physical damage to property is just over one month away on July 24 and the deadline for economic injury applications is February 26, 2007.
"I want to encourage all of those eligible, who have not yet filed for SBA loan assistance, to do so now while knowledgeable SBA officials are available locally to answer questions and provide helpful guidance," Snowe said. "My goal and the goal of the SBA's Office of Disaster Assistance is to help as many eligible Mainers as possible obtain the financial aid they need to get back on their feet."
To those ends, as of Thursday, June 15, 991 applicants from York County had applied for state or federal disaster assistance and 459 had been approved for Individuals and Households Program grants totaling $761,313. Housing Assistance of $720,074 was approved for 443 individuals and families and Other Needs Assistance in the amount of $41,239 was approved for 70 residents.
As of late last week, the SBA had issued low-interest disaster loan applications to 818 individuals and to 142 businesses affected by the flooding, with $320,100 in loans approved so far.
According to FEMA's Newington, N.H., office, all of the homeowners, renters and businesses that have called to register for assistance are from York County with almost 40 percent of the applicants are from York, Wells and Sanford.
"Applicants have been receiving grants within days of applying, thanks to new technology," said Maine State Coordinating Officer Steve Burgess - a fact confirmed by local residents.
Federal Coordinating Officer Kenneth Clark urged those who have not applied for assistance with their flood-related losses to do so.
"These individuals are encouraged to contact FEMA and begin the registration process without delay," he said.
For more on filing for disaster relief plans through FEMA or the SBA, visit www.fema.gov/assistance or www.sba.gov/disaster.
