Helping Business Recover from the High Park Fire

Jul 9, 2012 | Business & Economy, Business-Friendly Environment, Leadership

The High Park Fire is out and the recovery is underway. One of the unknowns is how many businesses were impacted by the fire. When comparing notes recently with a Larimer County official, we speculated that dozens of businesses – many of them home-based – were destroyed or damaged by the fire. But, nobody knows the exact number or even a good approximate number.

If you or someone you know lost their business, let us know. Email me at [email protected] or call 970 482-3751 x 102.

In terms of available resources for businesspeople, the U.S. Small Business Administration is a good place to start. The SBA has a number of disaster and economic injury loans available. According to their site, www.sba.gov some of the programs include:

  • Home and Property Disaster Loans
    Renters and homeowners alike may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace clothing, furniture, cars, appliances, etc. damaged or destroyed in the disaster. Homeowners may apply for up to $200,000 to repair or replace their primary residence to its pre-disaster condition.

  • Disaster Assistance Loans
    SBA provides low interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations to repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery & equipment, inventory and business assets that have been damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster.

  • Economic Injury Loans
    If your small business or private, nonprofit organization has suffered economic injury, regardless of physical damage, and is located in a declared disaster area, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

  • Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan
    Provides funds to eligible small businesses to meet their ordinary and necessary operating expenses that they were unable to meet due to an essential employee being “called-up” to active duty in their role as a military reservist.

  • Farm Emergency Loans
    Offers emergency loans to help producers recover from production and physical losses due to drought, flooding, other natural disasters, or quarantine.

We’d like to help businesses get back on their feet as soon as possible, so contact us if you lost your company or know of someone who did.