In northern Indiana, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security says businesses and residents in Porter, Elkhart, and contiguous counties may qualify for low interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) following damage incurred from severe storms that occurred July 15, 2024 The SBA and Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) will operate Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOC) at separate locations in Porter and Elkhart counties to assist residents in filing claims and answering questions regarding potential assistance to recover from damages. These centers are for those impacted by the July 15, 2024, storms only. A news release also said these services are available for residents in the following Indiana counties (additional to Elkhart and Porter): Jasper, Kosciusko, LaGrange, La Porte, Lake, Marshall, Noble, St. Joseph and Starke; and the Michigan counties of Berrien, Cass and St. Joseph.
Porter County:
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Aug. 12 – 27
Porter County Library, Valparaiso, IN 46383
Aug. 12 Hours: 11 a.m. 6 p.m.
Aug. 13 – 27 Hours: M-F 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT
Elkhart County:
Disaster Loan Outreach Center
Aug. 12 – 27
Elkhart County Health Department, Elkhart, IN 46516
Aug. 12 Hours: 11 a.m. 6 p.m.
Aug. 13 – 27 Hours: M-F 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET
SBA Customer Service representatives will be on hand at each Disaster Loan Outreach Center to answer questions about the loan program and help with applications. Additionally, staff from IDHS will help answer questions about the Indiana State Disaster Relief Fund, which can be used to cover losses not eligible for SBA loans, the announcement said.
Residents and businesses in the impacted counties will have until Oct. 7, 2024, to return applications for physical property damage. Those seeking Economic Injury Loans will have until May 7, 2025, to apply. Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private nonprofit organizations located in the designated counties that have suffered substantial economic injury from the storm may be eligible for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), the IDHS said. Visit www.SBA.gov for more information about the SBA disaster loan program.
