Disaster assistance available to small businesses
INDIANAPOLIS — The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Indiana small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19.
Small businesses, private nonprofit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the coronavirus since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred.
Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact.
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call 800-877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 18, 2020.
Chamber of commerce cancels, postpones events
GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Area Chamber of Commerce has canceled or postponed upcoming events due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The chamber canceled its April luncheon and postponed its Administrative Professionals Conference.
The status of the May membership luncheon and Community Walk of Fame will be updated as soon as possible, the chamber announced.
January unemployment down from last year
HANCOCK COUNTY — Unemployment in Hancock County was lower in January 2020 than it was in January 2019, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
Rates were 3.1% and 3.7%, respectively. Unemployment rose in January 2020 from 2.4% in December 2019.
The county’s January 2020 rate placed it 70th on a list ranking Indiana’s 92 counties from highest to lowest, with Hamilton County being the lowest at 2.6% and Crawford County being the highest at 6.1%.
Indiana’s unemployment rate was 3.1% in January 2020, 3.6% in January 2019 and 3.2% in December 2019.
Unemployment in the United States was 3.6% in January 2020, 4% in January 2019 and 3.5% in December 2019.
