United States Senator Sherrod Brown and Marie Johns of the Small Business Administration discussed federal disaster loan opportunities for Moscow residents after meeting with Moscow officials April 3. From left are Johns, Moscow Administrator Sandra Ashba, Moscow Mayor Tim Suter and Brown.

United States Senator Sherrod Brown and Marie Johns of the Small Business Administration discussed federal disaster loan opportunities for Moscow residents after meeting with Moscow officials April 3. From left are Johns, Moscow Administrator Sandra Ashba, Moscow Mayor Tim Suter and Brown.
United States Senator Sherrod Brown and Marie Johns, deputy administrator for the Small Business Administration, visited the village of Moscow April 3, a month after it was devastated by a tornado, to outline federal assistance that is still available for residents.

“Our hearts go out to this community,” Johns said during a brief press conference in the village. “We have been here and we will be back. There is a continued need in Moscow.”

Brown and Johns met in Moscow with village officials including mayor Tim Suter, and administrator Sandra Ashba to discuss loan opportunities for residents and how to better assist residents in the community.

“There are things the government can do better, and we worked on that today,” Brown said about providing assistance to residents in Moscow.

Last month, the SBA announced federal disaster loans were available to Brown, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren County residents and business owners that were affected by the storms and tornados that ripped through the southern part of the state March 2.

Homeowners can apply for loans up $200,000 to repair or replace damaged real estate, and renters and homeowners can apply for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged personal property.

In addition, businesses and non-profit organizations can apply for loans up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, equipment, inventory and other assets.

Brown said roughly half of the residents affected by the tornado in Moscow have applied for assistance, and while SBA officials were available to assist with loan information, he felt residents needed someone from the SBA in the village.

“SBA was originally in Washington Township,” Brown said. “Some people just couldn’t get there. We will have someone in the community that can help process applications.”

Brown said he thinks having someone closer will make a big difference in assisting residents who have not already applied for federal loans.

Tim Suter, mayor of the village, discussed how important the loans are for residents in the community who are trying to get back on their feet after the tornado.

“The benefit is going to be for people who didn’t have insurance or people who are renting homes and are now displaced,” Suter said. “It gives them an opportunity to re-build their life.”

Suter said the outpouring of help for residents in the village has been fabulous the past month, and the village has come a long way already. He said just cleaning up the debris from the storm has made a huge difference in the village.

“We’re definitely moving in the right direction,” Suter said about what is being done.

Suter said the biggest need in the near future is to make sure residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed are able to rebuild and stay in the village.

Johns said they hope to have representatives from the SBA in the village as soon as possible. Residents will be able to obtain loan applications from officials and officials will be able to answer questions about the application process.

She said the deadline for homeowners and renters to apply for assistance is May 14. Applications can be mailed to US Small Business Administration Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76155.

For more information about loan applications residents can call the SBA customer service center at 800-659-2955 or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

In addition to federal disaster loans through the SBA, short-term assistance from the state of Ohio is available to Clermont County residents affected by the severe weather. For more information contact the Clermont County Department of Job and Family Services at (513) 732-6006.