The State of Illinois has officially declared the following counties of Wayne, Clay, Clinton, Fayette, Marion, Jefferson and Washington counties as disaster areas following the severe storms and flooding that struck the region between April 2nd and April 6th.
This state-level disaster declaration makes affected residents and business owners eligible for low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Available loan options include:
Business Physical Disaster Loans
Economic Injury Disaster Loans
Home Disaster Loans
To qualify, applicants must have a credit history acceptable to the SBA and demonstrate the ability to repay the loans. For those without access to other credit, interest rates may be as low as 2.75% for home loans and 4% for business loans.
A Physical Disaster Loan Outreach Center will open today at 10 a.m. at the Centralia Chamber of Commerce, 210 East Broadway, Centralia. The center will be closed tomorrow and on Monday, May 26, but will otherwise operate:
Monday–Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Salem Emergency Management Director Andrew Strong noted that the damage surveys submitted were sufficient for a State Disaster Declaration, though they did not meet the threshold for a Federal Declaration.
Key application deadlines:
Physical damage loans: Apply by July 14, 2025
Economic injury loans: Apply by February 17, 2026
Residents and business owners are encouraged to begin the application process as soon as possible.
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