SBA Loans Will be Available in Indiana and Clearfield Counties

Gov. Josh Shapiro announced recently that the U.S. Small Business Administration approved his request to make financial aid available to those impacted by Tropical Storm Debby in Clearfield and Indiana counties on Aug. 8-10.

Debby’s rain raised rivers and triggered severe flooding from the Clymer area to the state’s northern tier, though only four counties (Lycoming, Potter, Tioga and Union) were included in a major disaster declaration issued by the president at Shapiro’s request.

Later, Clearfield and Indiana were included in the Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance, or FEMA PA, program also aimed at covering eligible costs incurred by state, county and municipal governments, and certain critical non-profits, in Cambria, Cameron, Elk, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties, for damages to public infrastructure and other costs associated with the disaster.

The SBA’s Disaster Loan program provides low-interest loans for homeowners, renters, private non-profits and businesses located in disaster-declared counties who sustained physical damages from flooding.

“I promised that my administration would continue to be there long after this disaster,” Shapiro said Monday. “And we’ve worked constantly over the past four months to help Pennsylvanians get back on their feet. These low-interest loans will provide support to additional Pennsylvanians impacted by this devastating storm.”

The SBA can provide up to $500,000 for homeowners to replace or repair their primary residences and up to $100,000 for homeowners and renters to replace or repair personal property. Businesses and most private non-profits may apply for up to $2 million to cover disaster losses not fully covered by insurance. Additionally, small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private nonprofit organizations located in the declared disaster area that have suffered substantial economic injury may be eligible for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan.

The Shapiro Administration said this was the first federal declaration for Pennsylvania under the Rural Communities Act of 2023, which allows the state to request an SBA disaster declaration in counties with rural communities that have experienced significant damage. Prior to the act, the SBA eligibility process required damage to at least 25 eligible homes or businesses.

The Act now allows rural areas to show need for federal assistance with only one damaged property when the county has received a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance, which Governor Shapiro secured for the Commonwealth on Nov. 13, 2024.

The SBA offers long-term repayment options to keep payments affordable, with terms up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay. Details can be found at lending.sba.gov.

Applicants may immediately obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1 (800) 659-2955 (1 (800) 877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov and referencing Pennsylvania Disaster Number PA-20018.

Alternatively, loan applications can be downloaded from the MySBA Loan Portal and completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Administration officials said Clearfield and Indiana counties and the SBA are currently coordinating efforts to open Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to provide in-person assistance for those wishing to apply for assistance.

Disaster survivors are encouraged to monitor local trusted media sources for location and hours of operation for the DLOCs once established, but visiting a DLOC is not required to obtain assistance.

The deadline to return disaster loan applications for physical damages is Feb. 11, 2025.

The deadline to return economic injury disaster loan applications is Sept. 15, 2025.