WASHINGTON – Some disaster relief loans are now available to small businesses affected by the three fires still burning in the West Fork Complex.
The Small Business Administration, a federal agency that supports small businesses, issued a disaster declaration Wednesday, making the Economic Injury Disaster Loan available to businesses in the area.
“Access to this aid is important in allowing (small businesses) to keep their doors open and play their role in the thriving community,” said Josh Green, spokesman for U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez.
This loan provides up to $2 million for the repair and replacement of inventory, real estate and equipment among other items, according to the SBA website.
Small businesses would be able to borrow money at a 4 percent interest, SBA Public Affairs Specialist Jack Camp said.
Small businesses, small agriculture cooperatives and most nonprofits in La Plata, San Juan, Hinsdale, Mineral and Rio Grande and other adjacent counties are eligible to apply, the SBA website said.
The SBA determines the loan by the financial needs of the small business as well as the disaster’s economic impact, according to the SBA website.
SBA will set up Disaster Loan Outreach Centers, which are temporary stations that provide information about the disaster loan program and its application, Camp said.
These centers will rotate through the Rio Grande, Mineral and Hinsdale counties starting July 23, according to Colorado’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website.
The West Fork Complex continues to burn with 66 percent contained, according to a July 16 update by Colorado Interagency Type III Team Incident Commander Phil Daniels.
The wildfire began on June 5 when lightning struck – igniting the Papoose, West Fork and Windy Pass fires.
At least five small businesses have suffered severely because of these fires, Gov. John Hickenlooper said in a July 9 letter to the SBA requesting these specific loans be made available.
“In a lot of cases, businesses rely on this time of year for tourism and recreation … and (the fire) certainly hurts their bottom line,” Green said.
Carla Shaw of the Springs Resort and Spa in Pagosa Springs did not wish to comment about West Fork Complex’s impact.
The entire Colorado congressional delegation, including Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, both Democrats, and Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, supported Hickenlooper’s request in a July 10 letter to President Barack Obama.
“This assistance from SBA will help small-business owners rebuild and recover from the financial losses of this disaster,” they said in a joint statement issued Wednesday.
Hickenlooper declared the West Fork Complex to be a disaster emergency on June 26, designating $3 million from the Disaster Emergency Fund to be used toward fire suppression, response and recovery efforts.
Paige Jones is a student at American University in Washington, D.C., and an intern for The Durango Herald. Reach her at pjones@durangoherald.com.
