SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to South Carolina Small Businesses Economically Impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to South Carolina small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today.
SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed
by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Henry McMaster on March 17, 2020.

The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in the entire state of South Carolina; and the contiguous counties of Burke, Chatham,
Columbia, Effingham, Elbert, Franklin, Habersham, Hart, Lincoln, Rabun, Richmond, Screven and Stephens in Georgia; and Anson, Brunswick,
Cleveland, Columbus, Gaston, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Mecklenburg, Polk, Richmond, Robeson, Rutherford, Scotland, Transylvania and Union in North Carolina.

“SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist South Carolina small businesses
with federal disaster loans. We will be swift in our efforts to help these small businesses recover from the financial impacts of the Coronavirus
(COVID-19),” said Administrator Carranza.

SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application
process.

“Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially
impacted as a direct result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million
to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred,” said Carranza.

“These 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. Disaster
loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing,” Carranza
added.

Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The interest rate is 3.75 percent for
small businesses. The interest rate for private nonprofit organizations is 2.75 percent. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to
keep 2 | P a g e payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial ability to offset the adverse
impact without hardship.

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 [email protected] 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.

The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 21, 2020.

For more information about Coronavirus, please visit: Coronavirus.gov.

For more information about available SBA resources and services, please visit: SBA.gov/coronavirus.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses
backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they
need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field
offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.