Stabenow, Peters Call on Small Business Administration to Take Action on State Request for Disaster Declaration in Flood-Damaged Communities

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters today called on the Small Business Administration to take action on the State of Michigan’s request to determine which Michigan counties affected by recent severe flooding may qualify for a federal disaster declaration. The Small Business Administration can provide low-interest loans to eligible residents and businesses so that they can repair and replace property and business assets that were damaged or destroyed. 

“Heavy rain and snow melts on February 19-21^st significantly impacted individuals and businesses in Allegan, Arenac, Barry, Berrien, Cass, Clare, Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, Mecosta, Newaygo, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Ottawa and St. Joseph counties, in addition to the cities of Grand Rapids and Lansing,” the Senators wrote. “We urge you to move swiftly to perform the necessary damage assessments and provide any and all appropriate resources that would assist families and businesses in the affected areas in rebuilding.” 

The full text of the Senators’ letter may be found below. 

March 20, 2018

The Honorable Linda McMahon

Small Business Administration

409 3^rd St. SW

Washington, D.C. 20416

Dear Administrator McMahon,

We write to support Governor Rick Snyder’s March 13, 2018 request for the Small Business Administration to move forward in determining which Michigan counties qualify for physical and economic disaster declarations.

Heavy rain and snow melts on February 19-21^st significantly impacted individuals and businesses in Allegan, Arenac, Barry, Berrien, Cass, Clare, Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, Mecosta, Newaygo, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Ottawa and St. Joseph counties, in addition to the cities of Grand Rapids and Lansing. As a result of the widespread damage, Governor Snyder declared a state of disaster on March 12, 2018.

Unfortunately, the resources needed to assist some of these impacted communities in the response and recovery efforts will likely exceed the capacity of the State and local governments. The Governor has requested that SBA conduct the necessary damage assessments so that SBA can move forward with making low-interest loans available to residents and businesses in these areas. These residents and businesses have been seriously impacted and need to repair or replace real estate, personal property, and business assets that were damaged or destroyed by the flooding.

We urge you to move swiftly to perform the necessary damage assessments and provide any and all appropriate resources that would assist families and businesses in the affected areas in rebuilding.