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Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to certain private nonprofit organizations in California following President Trump’s federal disaster declaration for Public Assistance as a result of wildfires that began Dec. 4, 2017, announced Administrator Linda McMahon of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Private nonprofits that provide essential services of a governmental nature are eligible for assistance.

SBA disaster assistance is now available in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

“Private nonprofit organizations should contact Deputy Public Assistance Officer Robert Larsen of the Recovery Section at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services by calling 916-600-3216 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to obtain information about applicant briefings,” said Director Tanya N. Garfield of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West.

“At the briefings, private nonprofit representatives will need to provide information about their organization,” continued Garfield.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will use that information to determine if the private nonprofit provides an “essential governmental service” and is a “critical facility” as defined by law. If so, FEMA may provide the private nonprofit with a Public Assistance grant for their eligible costs. If not, FEMA may refer the private nonprofit to SBA for disaster loan assistance.

SBA may lend private nonprofits up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

SBA can also lend additional funds to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For certain private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help with meeting working capital needs caused by the disaster.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact.

Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the nonprofit suffered any property damage.

The interest rate is 2.5 percent with terms up to 30 years. The deadline to apply for property damage is March 5, 2018. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Oct. 2, 2018.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information on SBA disaster assistance.

Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call 800-877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.



STOCKTON, Calif. – Imagine trying to learn a new skill next to a busy freeway as big rigs, cars and motorcycles roar by. That isn’t the best or safest setting for focused training.

With worker safety and more effective training in mind, Caltrans has built an outdoor training center at District 10’s Stockton campus.

The setting brings everything you’d find on the roadside to a quiet environment – free of roadway safety concerns.

For now, the training center is focused on using and repairing remote irrigation control systems and other irrigation work, but it has the potential for classes in everything from electrical work to pruning and planting.

Caltrans officials said the center is available for use to other districts.

In the latest Caltrans News Flash, maintenance workers attend a class at the training center, then repair a pipe break.

The center allows the trainer to simulate a pipe break and repeat the exercise if needed, something you can’t do on the roadside. The center has many stations, including pumps, flow sensors and a cistern. Workers like learning in this comfortable setting. Their supervisors say good training builds skill and confidence, which boosts morale.

With the additional funding from Senate Bill 1, projects are being accelerated. More culverts, potholes, signals and bridges are being repaired and replaced. Caltrans has a growing need to train maintenance workers, and the new training center is an innovative solution.

For more on the Training Center and Caltrans’ water conservation efforts, see Pages 13-15 at http://www.dot.ca.gov/milemarker/docs/MM-2017-Q3.pdf.

LCNews

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