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SBA urges wildfire-affected Camden County residents and businesses to apply before July 27 deadline
Summary
A Small Business Administration representative told the Camden County Board of Commissioners that homeowners and renters with physical damage from April wildfires must apply by July 27; businesses affected by economic injury have until March 3, 2027, to seek low‑interest disaster loans.
Sharad Shuler of the U.S. Small Business Administration briefed the Camden County Board of Commissioners on federal disaster loan programs tied to April wildfires, urging affected residents and businesses to apply online.
Shuler, based in Atlanta, said physical‑damage applications must be submitted by July 27. He described loan assistance for homeowners, renters and businesses: physical‑damage loans for repairs and replacement, and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) providing working‑capital to help businesses cover operating expenses such as payroll. Shuler said the SBA business rate for physical damage is about 4%; the homeowner/renter rate is roughly 2.875%. He added that EIDL applications are available through March 3, 2027.
The SBA representative said a local disaster recovery center in Brantley County has closed but that affected residents may still apply online at sba.gov/disaster. Board members asked whether applications must be filed online; Shuler confirmed the online process and the county agreed to post the application link on the county website to help residents find it.
Why it matters: The deadlines and low‑interest federal loans can be a primary route to cover repair costs after wildfire damage. Commissioners asked staff to make the application information available on Camden County’s site and to share details publicly so residents and small businesses have access before the cutoffs.
What’s next: The county will place application instructions on its website; residents with possible physical damage were given the July 27 deadline and business owners were told they have until March 3, 2027, to apply for economic injury loans.
