ATLANTA, Jan. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration reminds homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations of the deadline to submit disaster loan applications for damages caused by the Natural Gas Explosion on Nov. 23. The deadline to apply for physical damage is Feb. 11, 2013.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110909/DC65875LOGO)

All affected businesses, homeowners and renters, and non-profits in Hampden County and the adjacent counties of Berkshire, Hampshire and Worcester in Massachusetts; and Hartford, Litchfield and Tolland in Connecticut are encouraged to apply.

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. Businesses and non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

Interest rates are as low as 1.688 percent for homeowners and renters, 3 percent for non-profit organizations and 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years.  The SBA sets the loan amounts and terms based on each applicant's financial condition.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA's secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.  Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov.  Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth,
TX 76155.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical damage is February 11, 2013.  The deadline
to return economic injury applications is September 11, 2013.

For more information about the SBA's Disaster Loan Program, visit our website at www.sba.gov.

Contact: Michael Lampton
Phone: (404) 331-0333
Release Number: 13-186, MA 13417/13418

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration