SACRAMENTO – Karen G. Mills, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced Thursday that low-interest disaster loans are available to small businesses that have suffered financial losses due to the closure of the 2009 commercial salmon fishing season on the California coast.

By declaring a disaster, Administrator Mills’ action makes low interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) available immediately to help meet financial needs caused by the closure of the 2009 salmon fishing season beginning April 8.

Mills’ action responded to a request from Matthew R. Bettenhausen, acting secretary of the California Emergency Management Agency, on behalf of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, which SBA received May 18.

The declaration covers the California counties of Alameda, Del Norte, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Kings, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Tehama, Trinity and the neighboring Oregon counties of Curry and Josephine.

SBA is offering working capital loans of up to $2 million at an interest rate of 4 percent with terms up to 30 years.

“SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. These loans can provide vital economic assistance to fishing and fishing-dependent businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing,” said Alfred E. Judd, Director of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West.

“SBA customer service representatives will be in the affected communities along the California coast to meet individually with business owners to answer questions about SBA’s EIDL assistance, issue loan applications, explain the application process, and help them complete their applications,” Judd said.

Some eligible business owners include: small businesses engaged in salmon fishing in the waters affected by the closure (employees or crew members are not small businesses and are not eligible), and small businesses dependent on the catching or sale of salmon, including suppliers of fishing gear and fuel, docks, boatyards, processors, wholesalers, shippers, and retailers, and other small businesses dependent on revenue from the above.

“We recognize that some affected businesses may be reluctant to seek a loan to meet their immediate financial needs, but we encourage each business to learn how an SBA disaster loan can help them recover from the closure of the fishing season,” Judd emphasized. Business owners may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

In addition, loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling SBA toll-free at 800-659-2955, emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Hearing impaired individuals may call 800-877-8339.

The deadline to apply for these loans is Feb. 22, 2010.