ACCOMACK COUNTY, Va. — The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it is helping small businesses impacted by last week's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore get loans to help them with losses caused by the disruption.
The low-interest, long-term federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are for eligible businesses in the entire state of Maryland as well as surrounding areas in the region, including Accomack County on Virginia's Eastern Shore.
"As Baltimore and the wider community mourn and start to rebuild, the SBA and the Biden-Harris Administration stand ready to help local small businesses get through the economic disruption caused by the bridge collapse," said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman in a news release.
The bridge fell early Tuesday morning as the crew of the cargo ship Dali lost power and control. Two construction workers on the bridge were killed, while four more are missing and presumed dead.
A meticulous operation to remove the steel and concrete from the Patapsco River is ongoing. The Port of Baltimore's shipping channel remains blocked in the meantime.
Applicants can apply for an EIDL of up to $2 million to help overcome any temporary loss of revenue stemming from the bridge collapse. These loans may be used to pay normal operating expenses such as fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disruption.
The application can be completed online at sba.gov/disaster, where applicants can also receive more information about the loans. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.
The SBA is opening a center in Dundalk, Maryland, to help small businesses get loans to help them with losses caused by the disruption of the bridge collapse, starting at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 1. The location and hours for it are:
Business Recovery Center (BRC)
Baltimore County
Dundalk Renaissance
11 Center Place, Suite 201
Dundalk, MD 21222
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
These are the regions covered where business owners can apply for assistance are:
- The entire state of Maryland
- The District of Columbia
- Kent, New Castle, and Sussex in Delaware
- Adams, Bedford, Chester, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Lancaster, Somerset, and York in Pennsylvania
- Accomack, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun in Virginia
- Berkley, Grant, Hampshire, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan, and Preston in West Virginia.