SBA loans for businesses affected by Labor Day fire

COLFAX—While things remain quiet on a federal disaster declaration from the President of the United States, the U.S. Small Business Administration is making disaster loans available to businesses in Whitman County affected by the Labor Day firestorm.

Nonfarm small businesses in Whitman County can apply for loans to offset economic losses caused by the fires Sept. 7.

Farm small businesses can access USDA programs.

Whitman County Commissioners echoed the plea of Malden officials and congressional delegates in a letter to the president Dec. 21, asking for a decision on the federals disaster declaration.

“We respectfully request that you decide quickly whether to grant or reject the FEMA Public Assistance and Individual Assistance request for the Malden/Pine Creek fire disaster in Whitman County, Washington,” the letter began. It stated 20 plus individuals are trying to live in old RVs at their home sites due to limited resources.

“Very unfortunate,” Pine Creek Community Restoration spokesman Gerry Bozarth said about the federal silence.

Bozarth expects the federal declaration request to be fully approved, eventually. Once the approval is given, it will open up loan and grant options for those effected by the fires this summer. There are two parts of the declaration: public assistance and individual assistance. Bozarth was confident that at least the public assistance would be approved.

disasterloanassistance.sba.gov