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SBA Steps Up To Provide Disaster Aid To Va.

By: Sharon Rae // November 15, 2011
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Workers clean up a trailer park in Woodbridge, Va. that was destroyed in the flooding from Tropical Storm Lee in September.
Jonathan Wilson
Workers clean up a trailer park in Woodbridge, Va. that was destroyed in the flooding from Tropical Storm Lee in September.

After the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell's request for assistance following Tropical Storm Lee, the governor turned to the to the Small Business Association. Now, the SBA has given the thumbs up in the form of low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and businesses in Northern Virginia.

The Small Business Administration is set to open a Disaster Recovery Center this week and will provide details on how to get assistance.

The SBA has already approved McDonnell's request for Fairfax and Prince William Counties and is also offering the low-interest disaster loans to Arlington, Loudoun, Stafford and Fauquier Counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park.

More than 100 homes and businesses were destroyed or sustained major damage from the September storm. Hundreds were left homeless in Woodbridge after flooding ravaged a mobile home park.

Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to replace or repair damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 toward personal property. Businesses and nonprofits may borrow up to $2 million.

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