7/14/26
Effingham County Tornado, U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Centers Opens
EFFINGHAM, Ill. — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center for Effingham County will be opening Wednesday, July 15, 2026. The Center will be located in the Board Room at Effingham Unit 40 Board of Education Office, located at 2803 S. Banker St, Effingham (if using Google Maps, put in Effingham Community Schools).
On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, the Center will open at 11a.m., but regular hours will be Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Disaster Loan Outreach Center runs Wednesday, July 15, 2026, through Thursday, July 30, 2026.
The Center will provide in person support for residents and businesses seeking low interest disaster loans for storm related damages not covered by insurance. SBA customer service representatives will staff each center to answer questions, explain the application process, and assist individuals and businesses in completing applications. Walk-ins are welcome at all sites. Residents and business owners in SBA declared disaster counties and counties that border those counties are eligible to apply and may visit any DLOC, regardless of where they live.
For online applications, visit www.sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659 2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 7 1 1 for relay services.
The disaster declarations from the SBA cover the primary counties of Cook and LaSalle for the June 10, 11 storms and Coles and Effingham for the June 17 storms. Residents and businesses in the contiguous counties are also eligible for SBA disaster assistance, including Bureau, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, Lee, Livingston, Marshall, McHenry, Putnam, Will, and Woodford Counties in Illinois, as well as Lake County in Indiana for the June 10, 11 storms, and Clark, Clay, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Fayette, Jasper, Moultrie, and Shelby Counties for the June 17 storms.
Homeowners can apply for up to $500,000 in low-interest SBA disaster loans to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners or renters can apply for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property. Businesses and not-for-profits can borrow up to $2 million for physical damages. For more information, visit https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
The deadline to submit SBA disaster loan applications for physical property damage is September 8, 2026, and the deadline to submit applications for economic injury is April 12, 2027.
For more information call the Effingham County Emergency Management Agency at 217-540-1669.
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