SBA reminding residents impacted by flooding, Washington Bridge to check loan status

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The United States Small Business Administration is reminding Rhode Islanders impacted by September flooding and the Washington Bridge closure what they need to know about applying for assistance.

The organization is encouraging residents to visit a Disaster Recovery Center and get help with their application.

The deadline to apply in March 7.

The organization added that people should be checking their online portal to check the status of their application, and to reapply for reacceptance if it looks like an application has not been accepted, as applications can be withdrawn from the portal due to incomplete information.

It takes 21 business days for an application for a loan to be processed.

The organization said it has completed about 55 percent of the applications for relief for the bridge closure and 58 percent for the September flooding disaster relief.

“I really don’t want people to feel discouraged if they think there is a low approval amount so far,” SBA Public Affairs Specialist Julie Garrett said. “I believe at the last meeting they might have been concerned about that. They still need to put in an application, just put it in. And hopefully you will receive the loan.”