A disaster loan outreach center has opened in Belle to help residents who were impacted by August 2022 flooding.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are now available for businesses and people in Kanawha, Boone, Clay, Fayette, Jackson, Lincoln, Nicholas, Putnam, Raleigh and Roane counties who were impacted by flooding on Aug. 14 -15.

Representatives from the SBA are available to answer questions and help fill out paperwork.

Interest rates are as low as 3.04% for businesses, 1.875% for nonprofit organizations, and 2.188% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years.

Since this event happened months ago, some may have already started to rebuild, remodel and fix damages. Courtney Smith, a public affairs specialist with the SBA, said these loans can still be used to pay off work already done.

"We are aware individuals have used those personal funds and credit cards. The disaster loans proceeds can be used to payoff the credit cards, replenish the personal savings as long as they have to proper documentation," she said. "You have to show and prove that your credit card bill is what it is because you used it to make repairs, or used it to replace certain things."

Small business owners could get up to $2 million. Homeowners can get loans up to $200,000 to replace or repair damaged or destroyed real estate.

Homeowners and renters are able to get loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

The center will be open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 24, 2023. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Feb. 26, 2024.