Coast businesses, residents can get loans to help with effects of blue-green algae

After torrential rains damaged properties and blue-green algae damaged summer tourism, the Small Business Administration is now offering low-interest loans to people, businesses and nonprofit organizations who suffered losses.

Heavy rains in other parts of the country led to a record two openings of the Bonnet Carre Spillway in 2019, sending fresh water into the Mississippi Sound where blue-green algae started to grow.

All of the Coast’s beach waters were closed during peak tourist season, and those affected between June 22 and Oct. 5 can apply for a loan. That includes those in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, George, Pearl River, and Stone counties, in addition to Mobile and St. Tammany Parish.

Before the algae bloom, and just before Mother’s Day 2019, rains feel so heavy that a train track washed out, derailing a train, and first responders had to rescue people from flooded rivers.

The National Weather Service in New Orleans estimated, based on radar, that 6-10 inches fell over much of the area and up to 11-15 inches fell in northern Pearl River County just around May 10. Those affected counties include Stone, Forrest, George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River and Perry counties.

There are three types of assistance:

• Business Physical Disaster Loans for damage done to businesses of any size
• Economic Injury Loans for small businesses and nonprofits that can’t meet financial obligations because of the flooding
• Home Disaster Loans for both homeowners and renters for damage to homes and property, including vehicles.

“Businesses and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets,” said SBA Mississippi District Director Janita R. Stewart.

Small businesses and nonprofits can get loans even if there was no physical property damage.

“Loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property,” said Kem Fleming, center director of SBA Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.

The loans also can be used to prevent future disaster damage, such as for storm shelters and retaining walls, as well as for people or businesses to relocate.

Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 2.75% for nonprofits and 1.938% for homeowners and renters.

Applicants must have an acceptable credit history and show the ability to repay all loans. Collateral is required for loans over $25,000.

To apply for assistance, go online to disasterloan.sba.gov, call 1-800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Applications also can be downloaded at www.sba.gov and mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

In-person assistance is available at

• Hancock Resource Center, 454 Highway 90, Waveland, open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday (closed after Feb. 12)

• Harrison County Office Complex, Sand Beach Office, 842 Commerce St., Gulfport (closed after Feb. 5)
• Storm Prep Building Conference Room, 18355 Highway 603, Kiln (closed after Feb. 5)
• 2915 Canty St., Suite P, Pascagoula (closed after Feb. 5)
• The New Hope Road Shelter, 1084 New Hope Road, Wiggins

The deadline for help with physical property damage from the heavy rains is Jan. 21, and the deadline for economic injury applications is Aug. 19, 2020. The deadline for economic injury applications related to the algae is Oct. 16.

This story was originally published December 11, 2019 at 5:00 AM.