Albany Area Storm Roundup

SBA plans to open Business Recovery Center in Albany

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced this week plans to open a Business Recovery Center in Dougherty County on Monday to help businesses affected by severe storms, tornadoes and straight-line winds that occurred on Jan. 2 and Jan. 21-22.

SBA representatives at the Business Recovery Center can provide information about disaster loans, answer questions and help businesses in completing the SBA application. The center will be located at 125 Pine Ave., Suite 142 in Albany and will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Businesses and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or -destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or -destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged personal property.

Interest rates are as low as 3.125 percent for businesses and 2.5 percent for nonprofit organizations, and 1.5 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

AT&T to waive data overage charges for storm victims

To help customers impacted by the tornadoes around Southern Georgia, AT&T is waiving data overage charges for customers in affected areas.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Southern Georgia and our customers who have friends and family there,” an AT&T news release said. “Talk, text and data usage from Jan. 23 to Jan. 29 will not result in overage charges for post-paid customers.”

This applies to residents in Atkinson, Baker, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Clay, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Dougherty, Lee, Lowndes, Mitchell, Randolph, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Turner, Wilcox and Worth counties.

If charges appear on customers’ bills, they will be credited in the following bill cycle, the company said.

Regions Bank offers offers special services for storm-impacted customers

ALBANY — Regions Bank on Friday announced the company is offering a variety of financial services to help customers and businesses recovering from severe storms and tornadoes that struck South Georgia on Jan. 2 as well as on the weekend of Jan. 21 and 22.

Special offers include:

— Personal and business loan payment deferrals;

— Penalty-free withdrawals from certificates of deposit;

— Unsecured personal lines of credit to support storm recovery;

— A dedicated team to help with any questions or concerns;

— Solutions for customers experiencing difficulties making payments on consumer loans, lines of credit or credit cards.

— Offers apply to eligible customers who were affected by the severe storms and tornadoes that occurred on Jan. 2 and/or during the weekend of Jan. 21 and 22 in the following counties: Atkinson, Baker, Berrien, Brooks, Calhoun, Clay, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Dougherty, Early, Lowndes, Mitchell, Thomas, Turner, Wilcox and Worth.

“Our goal is to help people focus on what’s most important right now,” said Bill Linginfelter, Georgia President of Regions Bank. “Many homeowners and business owners are facing a very long road to recovery. By providing these services, we hope we can help make the recovery easier.”

Regions customers who are interested in the offers can visit South Georgia Regions branch locations through March 8 to receive complete details related to their individual needs and to sign up for applicable services.