LEWISTON, Maine — Many businesses came to a standstill in Oct. during the lockdown following the Lewiston mass shooting.
Now, some financial relief is available to the businesses and nonprofits that were impacted.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest, long-term economic injury disaster loans.
These loans are meant to pay for things like fixed debts, payroll, and other bills that could have been paid had the tragedy not happened.
Interest rates are 4% for businesses and less for nonprofit organizations, according to the SBA.
“It’s very similar for applying for any other loan," Jim Accurso, a public affairs specialist for the Small Business Administration said. "We look to get an answer to them within a couple of weeks. After they've talked to a loan officer and they understand the terms of the loan, they can get their first payout within five weeks.”
Businesses in Androscoggin County and the neighboring counties of Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Sagadahoc and Oxford are eligible.
For more information, you can call SBA's customer service center or visit its center at 415 Lisbon St., in Lewiston.
