FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Residents in Marion and Ohio counties who are still working toward recovering from damages caused by the Father’s Day floods still have a chance to be recipients of low-interest disaster loans from the federal government.
Representatives with the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that a 60-day grace period for applicants wishing for a physical damage loan is underway for anyone that missed the initial Sept. 22 loan application deadline.
SBA Public Affairs Specialist Timothy Watson confirmed on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town” that Marion County residents, as well as people living in neighboring counties who were among those that suffered through a combined $2 million worth of economic losses during June 14 & 15 are still eligible to apply for economic disaster relief loans as well as immediate impact loans with interest rates reaching as low as 2.8 percent depending on the circumstance.
“We do have a 60-day grace period for the physical disaster loan so you have up until November 22nd apply to that program with no justification as to why you are applying late and we want the public to know that FEMA is there for them as well,” Watson said.
According to Watson, the grace period for applications being accepted by the SBA for disaster relief loans was originally issued shortly before the original Sept. 22 deadline to account for Marion County residents who were either delayed in applying for a disaster relief loan or were initially unsure if they were eligible. Any homeowner who experienced damage, even months after the storm, is encouraged to apply for physical damage loans of up to $500,000 as well as up to $100,000 to replace personal property through the SBA.
Along with residents and business owners that were directly affected by Father’s Day storms that affected at least 35 businesses in Marion County, loan applications will also be accepted for residents in Brooke, Harrison, Monongalia, Taylor and Wetzel counties that might have been affected. One loan in particular that Watson pointed out was the economic injury disaster loans (EIDLs) offered by the SBA, which can be applied for by businesses that experienced a downturn in revenue due to damage experienced by their customer base. Businesses and nonprofits eligible for the loan can request up to $2 million to account for any damage received as a result of the storm.
“In the case of Wetzel County or the counties that directly touch Marion County, it may take a little time for them to actually see those effects, as they might be getting people to come in regularly,” said Watson. “So that’s why they’re given an extended amount of time.”
For those wishing to apply, interest rates on the loans will vary depending on resident’s ability to obtain credit beyond the SBA, type of business, or if they are a non-profit. Home repair loans from the SBA will start as low as 2.8 percent, with small business loans maxing out at five percent interest and nonprofit loans maxing out at 4 percent. With the loan and grant applications open through most of November, Watson highly advises anyone in the Marion County area still experiencing impacts from the June 2025 floods to go to the FEMA and SBA websites to find more information.
“The best way to apply is going on our website at sba.gov/disaster,” said Watson. “We do have a 1-800 number for customer service, which is 1-800-659-2955, and for those who have already applied, they can still go into the application portal.”
Story by Joe Nelson, WAJR